Sylvia Bongo, the wife of Gabon’s ousted president, and their son, Nourredin Bongo, have been moved from prison to house arrest, sources confirmed on Wednesday. However, it remains unclear when they will face trial for alleged financial crimes.
The Bongos were detained shortly after Ali Bongo was overthrown in a military coup more than a year and a half ago. They had been held in basement cells within the presidential palace in Libreville. The decision to transfer them to house arrest was made on May 9, after significant pressure from African Union officials advocating for their release. One of the sources also mentioned that Sylvia and Nourredin Bongo had been hospitalized following a hunger strike on May 1.
The couple faces accusations of embezzlement and money laundering, with supporters claiming they were tortured during their detention. President Brice Oligui Nguema, who assumed office in May with 95% of the vote, denied any allegations of torture in an interview with Radio France Internationale in March, insisting that their trials would proceed.
Gabon’s communications minister, Paul-Marie Gondjout, did not comment when asked about the transfer.
In a statement on April 30, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council lifted its suspension of Gabon, which had been imposed following the coup. The council called for the immediate release of the Bongo family and guarantees for their rights and health.
A representative for the Bongo family stated that Sylvia and Nourredin Bongo would not be making a public comment at this time. Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, a former prime minister under Ali Bongo, expressed cautious optimism, noting that while the move could be seen as a step toward the family’s release, it should not be mistaken for clemency. He added, “We hope that any trial, if it happens, will adhere to the principles of impartiality, fairness, and transparency.”