Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, the wife of Gabon’s deposed president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, has been formally charged with money laundering and other offences, according to a statement by the public prosecutor issued on Friday. These charges come approximately one month after her husband was ousted in a coup.
Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, who holds both French and Gabonese citizenship, along with one of their sons, has been accused by the coup’s leaders of exerting significant influence over the oil-rich nation.
Their eldest son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, has already been charged with corruption and embezzlement of public funds, along with several former cabinet members and two former ministers.
Sylvia Bongo was formally charged by an investigating judge on Thursday and has been placed under house arrest, as announced by Andre Patrick Roponat in a televised statement. She also faces additional charges, including concealment and forgery.
Since the coup on August 30, which marked the end of the 55-year-long Bongo dynasty rule, Sylvia Bongo has remained under house arrest in the capital city of Libreville. Her isolation from her husband prompted her French legal team to file a complaint in Paris, alleging a form of hostage-taking.
One of her lawyers, Francois Zimeray, emphasised, “No one is above the law but the law must be respected for all. “What to think of a justice system which keeps people in solitary confinement for weeks before charging them, without having access to a defence?”
Ali Bongo, aged 64, had governed the central African nation since 2009 and was overthrown by military leaders immediately after being declared the winner of a presidential election. The election results were contested by the opposition and the military coup leaders, who also accused his regime of widespread corruption and poor governance. Many viewed the coup as an act of liberation rather than a traditional military takeover.
Ali Bongo assumed office following the death of his father, Omar Bongo, who had ruled Gabon for nearly 42 years.
Noureddin Bongo Valentin, his son, was indicted earlier in the month and placed in provisional detention on charges of corruption.
In total, 10 individuals have been indicted on various charges, including electoral irregularities, forgery, corruption, embezzlement of public funds, and money laundering. Seven of them, including Noureddin Bongo, have been detained. Additionally, two former ministers, responsible for oil and public works, are among those in custody.
Following his brief house arrest, Ali Bongo is now free to move within and outside the country, as confirmed by Gabon’s new military leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema.
In October 2018, Ali Bongo suffered a stroke that sidelined him for ten months. General Oligui accused the former First Lady and Noureddin of abusing the president’s power since his stroke, including allegedly falsifying his signature and issuing orders on his behalf.
The new leadership has swiftly declared its intolerance for corruption. Shortly after seizing power, General Oligui summoned around 200 Gabonese business leaders to a televised meeting, cautioning them against overcharging and urging their commitment to the nation’s development. He also vowed to recover any excess funds for the state’s benefit.
General Oligui has pledged to transition the country back to civilian rule through elections, though no specific timeframe has been announced. During the past month, he engaged in extensive consultations with various segments of the population.
The interim prime minister, Raymond Ndong Sima, was a prominent opponent of Ali Bongo’s regime. His government included politicians, civil society members, and former regime insiders who also opposed Bongo’s rule.
While General Oligui has vowed to improve conditions for the impoverished population, Gabon faces significant political, economic, and social challenges. Despite being Africa’s third-richest nation in terms of per-capita GDP, one in three Gabonese citizens lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
