Gabon’s ex-president and family released and relocated to Angola
Former Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba and his family walked free for the first time in nearly two years.
According to a statement from the Angolan presidency shared on social media, the Bongo family arrived in Luanda, Angola on Friday. Photos posted to the Angolan presidency’s official Facebook page showed Bongo’s arrival at the airport.
Diplomatic efforts led by Angolan President João Lourenço and Gabon’s new president, Brice Oligui Nguema, helped secure the family’s release. However, no further details were provided.
Brice Oligui Nguema, a former military commander who led the coup, won the presidency in April.
In the wake of the 2023 coup, Gabon was suspended from the African Union (AU). But after a return to civilian rule, the AU’s Peace and Security Council readmitted the country following an April 30 meeting. The council also called for the immediate release of Bongo’s family and assurances for their safety and rights.
Ali Bongo, whose family had ruled Gabon for over five decades, assumed the presidency in 2009 after the death of his father, Omar Bongo. Following his removal, Ali Bongo was placed under house arrest in Libreville. During his detention, videos surfaced on social media showing him pleading for international support to secure his release.
Bongo’s wife, Sylvia (French-born), and their son, Noureddin, were arrested on corruption charges in 2023. Neither has publicly addressed the allegations, though Sylvia’s lawyer denounced her detention as arbitrary and illegal. Recent local reports suggest the family was moved from detention facilities at the presidential annex to a residence in Libreville before their release.
