Ousted African leader relocates to neighboring state
Ousted Gabonese President Ali Bongo and his family have been released from house arrest and have been flown to Angola, African Union (AU) Chairperson Joao Lourenco announced on Friday.
The move came days after Lourenço, who is Angola's president, visited the Central African country and held talks with its leader, Brice Oligui Nguema, who led the August 2023 military coup that removed Bongo.
'Following the demonstrations made by the President …of Angola and the President-in-charge of the African Union, Joao Lourenco, together with President Brice Oligui Nguema, from Gabon, the Bongo family has been released and has just arrived in Luanda,' Angola's presidency said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Bongo's wife, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, and son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, were transferred from prison to house arrest last week, after being detained for over a year on charges of embezzlement, corruption, and money laundering. They had been moved to the family residence in Gabon's capital, Libreville, where Bongo had been staying since his removal from office.
Local media earlier reported that the former first lady and her son were under judicial supervision and would be required to cooperate with local authorities pending their trial. Sylvia Bongo was formally detained in October 2023, months after the coup. Her lawyer previously described her detention as 'arbitrary' and 'illegal.'
The Bongo family has dominated Gabon's politics for over five decades. Ali Bongo came to power in 2009 following the death of his father, Omar Bongo, who had ruled since 1967. Ali Bongo's presidency ended in August 2023 when General Nguema led a military takeover following a disputed election.
Authorities accused Sylvia Bongo of exploiting her husband's poor health – resulting from a 2018 stroke - and embezzling public funds with help from key officials. Both she and her son have denied the allegations.
The former president staged a hunger strike last year in protest over alleged mistreatment of his family in custody.
On April 30, the African Union adopted a resolution calling for the release of Bongo and his family, urging the former French colony's new leadership to uphold their rights and safety.
The Gabonese government has not officially commented on what local outlet Gabon Review described as a discreet release and evacuation of the Bongo family to neighboring Angola. President Brice Oligui Nguema – who won last month's election with a sweeping 90.35% of the vote – is also a cousin of Ali Bongo.
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