The leaders of the military coup in Gabon have released ousted President Ali Bongo and granted him permission to fly overseas for medical treatment.
Col. Ulrich Manfoumbi, a junta spokesman, announced this on state television on Wednesday.
Since the coup in the country of Central Africa in late August, Bongo is apparently being kept under house arrest.
“Given his state of health, the former President of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is free to move about. He may, if he wishes, travel abroad to receive medical check-ups,” junta spokesperson Col. Ulrich Manfoumbi said on state television, reading a statement from transitional leader Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema.
Images of Bongo welcoming Abdou Abarry, head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, at Bongo’s mansion in the nation’s capital Libreville were also released by the junta commanded by transitional leader Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema.
Since the revolution, the ousted Gabonese president has not been seen. A video of him pleading with followers to “make noise” after being placed under house arrest surfaced soon after he was overthrown.
“The people here have arrested me… I’m in the residence… I don’t know what is going on,” he said in the footage.
A failed coup attempt was launched in 2019 after Bongo, 64, suffered a stroke in 2018 and spent months outside of Gabon undergoing treatment in Morocco. This raised concerns about Bongo’s fitness to serve as president.
Since taking over from his father Omar Bongo in 2009, he had been in charge for 14 years. In the contested elections last month, he ran for reelection.