Former Gabon President Ali Bongo, His Wife & Son Freed From Detention, Now Resettled in Angola

 

After months of political tension and house arrest, former Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba and members of his immediate family have finally been released from detention. They have now arrived safely in Luanda, the capital city of Angola, according to an official announcement from the Angolan government.

Ali Bongo, who led Gabon for years after taking over from his father, was removed from power in a military coup that happened in August 2023. His removal brought an end to 55 years of continuous rule by the Bongo family, which began with his late father, Omar Bongo. Since the coup, Ali Bongo had been placed under house arrest in Libreville, Gabon’s capital city.

The long-awaited news of the Bongo family’s release was shared on Friday through a post on the official Facebook page of the Angolan presidency. The statement was accompanied by clear photographs showing the former president at the airport in Luanda, where he was being warmly received.

According to the post, the “Bongo family has been released and has just arrived in Luanda.” No further explanation was provided in the statement about the exact conditions of their release or the terms of their stay in Angola.

However, the Angolan presidency did mention that this development came about after discussions between Angola’s President Joao Lourenço and Gabon’s current leader, Brice Oligui Nguema. Though specific details of those conversations were not made public, it appears the two leaders came to an agreement that resulted in the safe relocation of the Bongo family.

President Brice Oligui Nguema, a former military general who led the coup, officially took over the presidency in April 2024 after winning the elections with a landslide 95% of the vote. He was then sworn into office in early May.

The situation was especially sensitive because it wasn’t just Ali Bongo who was being held. His wife, Sylvia Bongo, who is French-born and 62 years old, as well as their 33-year-old son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, were also in detention. Both of them had been accused of embezzling public funds, though no official verdict has been given yet.

Several local Gabonese media outlets had recently reported that the Bongo family was no longer being held in prison-like conditions. Instead, they had been transferred from detention cells at the presidential annex to a residence in Libreville, signaling a possible shift in how the new government viewed their situation.

With this latest development, it now appears that the new Gabonese leadership is taking steps toward turning a fresh page in the country’s history—possibly choosing reconciliation over punishment.

Though much remains uncertain about the future of the Bongo family, for now, one thing is clear: they are no longer in detention, and they have found temporary refuge in Angola.

As always, NaijaRush will keep you updated on any new developments regarding this high-profile political drama in Central Africa.