Franco-Gabonese wife of former president Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, has been arrested on Thursday October 12, according to her attorney.
She had been under house arrest since a military coup at the end of August for allegedly embezzling state fund.
Her French attorney, François Zimeray, responded when asked by AFP about his client’s detention late on Wednesday night, “I can confirm this.”
He condemned a “arbitrary” and “illegal” process. The central prison in Libreville reportedly issued a committal order for Mrs. Bongo late on Wednesday night after a protracted re-hearing by an examining magistrate, according to Gabonese media reports.
On September 28, Mrs. Bongo was officially charged with “money laundering and forgery” and placed under house arrest in Libreville, a situation that had persisted since the aftermath of the August 30 coup that ousted her husband.
The military forces responsible for overthrowing her husband, citing allegations of election manipulation within his inner circle, publicly expressed suspicions regarding the former First Lady.
They believed she had exercised significant influence over her husband, who had been dealing with the repercussions of a severe stroke in 2018.
Furthermore, they accused her, along with their son Noureddin Bongo Valentin, of effectively leading the country since that time and engaging in extensive misappropriation of public funds.
Noureddin Bongo had also been incarcerated since the inception of the coup, facing charges of “corruption” and “embezzlement of public funds.”
Wife of Gabon’s ousted President Ali Bongo, Sylvia Bongo, is facing charges of money laundering, receiving stolen property, forgery, and using forged documents.
Public prosecutor Andre Patrick Roponat made the announcement on Friday, revealing that Sylvia Bongo’s case was presented to an investigating judge the day before. He also confirmed that her house arrest order would remain in effect.
These charges come after several weeks of uncertainty regarding Mrs. Bongo’s whereabouts, as she had been placed under house arrest on August 30th when her husband was removed from power by the military.
In addition to Sylvia Bongo’s charges, her son Noureddin Bongo Valentin has also been charged with corruption and embezzlement, leading to his placement in pre-trial detention.
Notably, Ali Bongo, the deposed President with a history of corruption allegations, has been released by the military junta and granted permission to seek medical treatment abroad if he chooses to do so.
The state prosecutor in Gabon has announced that Noureddin Bongo Valentin, the eldest son of the deposed president Ali Bongo, along with several of his political associates, has been formally charged with high treason and corruption.
Noureddin Bongo Valentin, aged 31, was taken into custody shortly after last month’s coup.
National television aired footage showing him and some of his father’s close associates alongside suitcases of cash reportedly seized from their residences.
As of now, there has been no official response from them regarding these accusations.
The military took control of the government shortly after Ali Bongo was declared the victor in Gabon’s presidential election. Ali Bongo had been in power since 2009, succeeding his father, who had governed the country for 41 years.
Gabon’s military leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, has held discussions with opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa as part of consultations aimed at rebuilding the country.
Mr. Ossa, who was the primary challenger to the deposed President Ali Bongo in the election that was nullified when the military seized power, seems to be courted by the military authorities in their efforts to seek support from the opposition for charting a new path for Gabon.
Notably, Mr. Ossa chose to boycott the inauguration ceremony of General Nguema that took place on Monday, asserting that he had won the invalidated elections and should have been sworn in as president.
The meeting between General Nguema and Mr. Ossa suggests that the opposition might play a role in the interim government, although specific details were not disclosed. Mr. Ossa emphasized that their discussions revolved around the transition process and the restoration of government institutions.
The coup that occurred last Wednesday appears to have garnered some level of popular support, but there remains uncertainty about the country’s future. General Nguema has not specified when he plans to return the nation to civilian rule.
In related developments, the junta has released several prisoners, including pro-democracy activist and leader of the most influential trade union confederation, Jean Rémi Yama.
When military takeovers occurred in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, they were met with condemnation from various quarters, including African leaders and international organizations.
However, some people in Africa viewed these coups as a form of revolution aimed at liberating the continent from oppressive regimes. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, former Permanent Representative to the African Union Mission in Washington DC, referred to it as an “ideological realignment of economic, political, and social values.”
Gabon, which recently experienced a coup, joins the list of African nations affected by political upheaval. This coup marks the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020.
The military officers in Gabon justified their actions by citing concerns about the transparency and credibility of the presidential election results.
They accused President Ali Bongo Ondimba’s regime of contributing to institutional, political, economic, and social crises in the country.
Africans have grown increasingly intolerant of leaders who cling to power for extended periods, often through dubious means.
Several African presidents, including Paul Biya of Cameroon, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo, and Ali Bongo of Gabon, have remained in power for decades.
The military coup in Gabon and similar uprisings in other countries reflect the desire of Africans to challenge oppressive regimes that exploit the nation’s resources while the majority of citizens suffer.
This wave of change in Africa highlights the need for regional bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) to address institutional coups proactively, rather than waiting for military takeovers before intervening.
Failure to do so has led to criticism of ECOWAS and AU for their stance on coups, particularly regarding the recent events in Niger. African citizens appear determined to hold their leaders accountable for any abuse of power, including attempts to remain in office indefinitely.
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has taken swift action in response to the recent military coup in Gabon.
In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the council expressed its strong condemnation of the coup and announced the immediate suspension of Gabon’s participation in all activities of the AU, as well as its organs and institutions.
This decision was made during a council meeting convened to address the situation in Gabon, which unfolded following disputed elections that resulted in President Ali Bongo Ondimba being declared the winner.
The meeting was chaired by Bankole Adeoye of Nigeria, the African Union commissioner for political affairs, and the current chair of the council, Willy Nyamitwe of Burundi.
The military coup in Gabon marked the conclusion of the Bongo family’s nearly six-decade-long rule and posed a fresh challenge for a region that has grappled with a total of eight coups since 2020.
Nigeria’s recently elected president Bola Tinubu called it a “contagion of autocracy”.
“My fear has been confirmed in Gabon that copy cats will start doing the same thing until it is stopped,” Tinubu, who chairs West Africa’s main regional body ECOWAS, said on Thursday.
The military general who led the overthrow of Gabon’s Bongo dynasty is set to be inaugurated as the transitional president on Monday, according to an announcement by the army. Meanwhile, the opposition is demanding that their candidate be officially recognized as the victor of the recent weekend elections.
The military sought to reassure donors they would “respect all commitments” at home and abroad and “phase in” transitional institutions, Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, spokesman for the new regime, said on state television.
The swearing-in ceremony for the new leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, is scheduled to take place at the constitutional court, as disclosed by a spokesman. This marks the initial indication of how the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) intends to operate following the coup that occurred on Wednesday.
The ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States) has strongly condemned the coup and expressed its intention to convene a meeting of heads of state in the near future to determine the appropriate response. However, the statement did not specify a date for this meeting.
The coup was initiated by senior officers in Gabon shortly after the election body declared that President Bongo had secured a third term following Saturday’s vote.
Subsequently, a video surfaced of President Bongo detained in his residence, appealing to international allies for assistance while seemingly unaware of the unfolding events. The officers also announced General Nguema, the former head of the presidential guard, as the new head of state.
On Wednesday, Tinubu announced that he was collaborating closely with other African leaders to address what he referred to as the “spread of autocracy” across Africa.
In response to the coup in Niger on July 26, ECOWAS had threatened military intervention and imposed sanctions. However, the military government has not yielded to these measures. Similarly, military leaders in other African nations, such as Mali, have resisted international pressure, managing to maintain their grip on power and, in some cases, even garnering popular support.
The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), representing Central Africa’s political bloc, issued a statement condemning the coup. ECCAS announced plans for an “imminent” meeting of heads of state to determine an appropriate response, although no specific date was provided.
According to Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque, reporting from Dakar, Senegal, the response from the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) has been relatively subdued. This may be attributed in part to concerns in the region about the potential for a “contagion of coups” among countries with political systems similar to the Bongo dynasty.
Man who has successfully ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba in a recent coup, General Brice Oligui Nguema, will officially take on the role of “transitional president” in a swearing-in ceremony scheduled to take place before the Constitutional Court on Monday, September 4. This announcement was made by the coup leaders on Thursday.
In response to the recent political developments, General Oligui, the new leader of Gabon, unveiled plans for the “gradual establishment of transitional institutions” while vowing that the nation would uphold all of its “external and internal commitments.”
Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, the spokesperson for the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), a collective comprising key military commanders, communicated the upcoming events on state television. He shared that the inauguration of the Transitional President would occur at the Presidency of the Republic on September 4, 2023.
Additionally, General Oligui has taken steps to initiate the phased creation of transitional institutions. However, the duration of this transitional period was not specified. The new leadership has also directed various government officials, including secretaries-general, ministerial cabinets, and directors-general, to ensure an immediate and effective resumption of work, facilitating the continuous operation of all public services.
Colonel Manfoumbi Manfoumbi concluded by affirming that thePresidentof the Transition is determined to reassure international donors, development partners, and the State’s creditors, pledging that comprehensive measures will be enacted to ensure the nation’s commitment to honoring both its domestic and international obligations.
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Gabon has seen three leaders at its helm.
The first leader was Leon M’Ba, who assumed the presidency in 1961. M’Ba was known for his conservative stance and strong pro-France inclinations. During his time in office, he gradually adopted a more authoritarian approach to governance.
Copyright: Getty Images Leon M’Ba held the presidency from 1961-67
In 1964, a coup d’état temporarily ousted him from power, but a French intervention swiftly reinstated him as president. Unfortunately, Leon M’Ba’s presidency was short-lived, as he passed away three years later.
Following his death, Omar Bongo assumed the presidency and ruled for an impressive period of over four decades until his passing in 2009.
Omar Bongo is Gabon’s longest serving leader, Credit: Getty Images
Throughout his tenure, Gabon maintained a remarkably close relationship with France, operating within a framework commonly referred to as “Francafrique.” This arrangement involved the Gabonese government receiving political and military backing in exchange for various business concessions and favors.
Tensions emerged in the relationship between the two nations when Ali Bongo, Omar Bongo’s son, secured a contested victory in the 2009 election. This contentious outcome led to a protracted investigation into allegations of corruption related to the Bongo family’s assets.
Ali Bongo is currently under house arrest after the country’s military launched a coup, Credit: Getty Images
In 2018, Bongo experienced a stroke that incapacitated him for nearly a year, prompting calls for him to consider stepping aside from leadership.
However, Bongo chose to disregard these calls and proceeded to run for re-election. Surprisingly, he secured re-election on a Saturday, but the army has since declared the results of this election null and void.
The head of Gabon’s presidential guard, says President Ali Bongo has been officially retired, as reported by the French newspaper Le Monde.
Brice Oligui Nguema made the statement during an interview, according to the BBC.
“He is a Gabonese head of state. He is retired and enjoys all his rights. He is a normal Gabonese, like everyone else,” Gen Brice Oligui Nguema is quoted to have said.
Currently, President Ali Bongo is under house arrest. A video of him has gone viral on social media, where he confirms his confinement at the presidential residence.
He also reveals that his son has been detained, and his wife is being held at a different location.
Currently, it appears a leader has not been selected by the army junta.
Earlier, it was reported that Brice Oligui Nguema has been appointed transitional leader, but he has refuted such claims.
“I am not declaring myself yet, I am not considering anything at the moment,” he told the French newspaper.
“It is a debate we will have with all the generals.”
Russia has expressed deep worry about the reported coup unfolding in Gabon.
France is also worried about what is happening in Gabon. The French Foreign Minister, Olivier Véran, has said that Paris wants the outcome of Gabon’s recent election to be respected.
Ali Bongo, who is 64 years old, won another term as President in the elections that took place on Saturday. The military currently states that he is confined to his home and not allowed to leave.
Former president of Gabon, Ali Bongo, has officially acknowledged the occurrence of a coup within the nation in an informal communication directed at his global allies.
Through a 51-second video disseminated on social media platforms, Bongo can be observed within a room at the presidential palace, urging his international friends to vociferously protest his apprehension. This development followed the military’s announcement of his removal in the early hours of Wednesday, August 30.
Furthermore, he verified that he is currently sequestered at the presidential residence, noting that his son had been taken into custody and his wife was being held at a different location.
“My name is Ali Bongo Ondimba, president of Gabon. I am sending a message to all the friends of all the friends that we have all over the world, to tell them to make noise, to make noise.
“The people here have arrested me and my family, my son is somewhere, my wife is in another place and I am at the residence. Nothing is happening. I don’t know what is going on.
“So I am telling you to make noise, to make noise, to make noise really. Thank you,” his address read.
Reports indicate that his well-known son, Valentin Bongo Ondimba, has been apprehended by the junta on allegations of embezzlement. Other sources suggest that he is also facing charges of treason.
NEW VIDEO: Gabon president Ali Bongo Ondimba appeals for international support after military coup – in English pic.twitter.com/Sj8PXkCKqa
Following the junta’s declaration of Bongo’s removal from his 14-year tenure, hundreds of people crowded the streets of the capital city, Libreville, to join in the celebrations.
In the midst of the military takeover in Gabon, it is crucial to examine the sequence of governments that have governed the nation.
The recently ousted leader is Ali Bongo, who had been declared the winner in Saturday’s election and had been in power for 14 years. He succeeded his father, former President Omar Bongo, in office.
Ali Bongo
Omar Bongo assumed the presidency in 1967 following the death of his predecessor, M’ba. He led the single-party regime of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) until 1990, when public pressure compelled him to introduce multi-party politics in Gabon.
In 2009, after 42 years in power, Omar Bongo left office, and Ali Bongo succeeded him.
An interesting fact, as reported by Africa Fact Zone on Twitter, is that former President Omar Bongo accumulated significant wealth during his tenure.
Omar Bongo
According to the tweet, he possessed 70 bank accounts, 39 apartments, 2 Ferraris, 6 Mercedes-Benz cars, 3 Porsches, and a Bugatti in France.
Gabon's former President Omar Bongo had 70 bank accounts, 39 apartments, 2 Ferraris, 6 Mercedes Benz cars, 3 Porsches and a Bugatti in France.
At present, Gabon is under military control, with the military rejecting the results of the recent election.
In a televised address early on Wednesday, twelve soldiers announced the cancellation of the election results and the dissolution of “all the institutions of the republic.”
Elections have started in Gabon, a country in Central Africa known for its oil reserves. The current President, Ali Bongo, is seeking re-election for a third term after taking over from his late father in 2009.
He has to compete against 13 other people.
Albert Ondo Ossa, a candidate running against the Bongos in Gabon, believes that Gabon does not belong solely to the Bongos. He hopes to win the election with the help of the Alternance 2023 coalition, even though he was only chosen as their leader last week.
As in previous elections, individuals express concerns about the methods employed. Mr Bongo’s previous wins were challenged by his opponents who claimed they were fraudulent. In addition, there have been controversial alterations to the ballot papers just a few weeks before the election day.
This is the first time that voters are being asked to choose both a president and a member of parliament who belong to the same party, and they just need to mark their choice on one ballot.
Experts say that independent candidates,especially Mr Ondo Ossa from the opposition Alternance 2023 alliance, are at a disadvantage because they don’t have their own political party.
Albert Ondo Ossa, who is 69yearsold, is a highly regarded person who used to work as a government official in charge of education.
Reporters Without Borders, a campaign group, says that foreign media are not allowed to enter the country and report on the vote happening on Saturday.
There won’t be any election monitors from the EU or UN.
The local civil society group, Tournons La Page,plans to observe and monitor despite not having official approval.
Before the vote on Saturday, there was a big argument. President Bongo accused Mr. Ondo Ossa and another opposition leader of committing treason.
The two people say that the accusations of them planning to create a fight for power in Gabon and getting help from other countries are not true. They also said that the government is tricking people and behaving in a bad way. They made this statement through Alternance 2023.
In addition to voting for the president and MPs, the people in Gabon are also voting for mayors and local councillors.
Gabon has about 2. 3 million people who live there. It has lots of oil and big areas of rain forest.
However, the worldwide economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic have caused a decrease in the shipment of natural resources.
