IN the wake of the recent coup that shook Gabon and led to the removal of President Ali Bongo Ondimba from power, his wife, Sylvia Bongo Valentin, has been charged with ‘money laundering’ and various other offences, according to statements made by the public prosecutor on Friday. This development comes a month after the coup that saw her husband ousted from office.
Sylvia Bongo Valentin has been confined to house arrest in the capital city, Libreville, since August 30, the day her husband was overthrown. The coup took place moments after Ali Bongo Ondimba was declared the winner of a presidential election, a decision that was met with widespread controversy and accusations of electoral misconduct.
Furthermore, it has been reported that Noureddin Bongo Valentin, the eldest son of the former president, has already faced charges of corruption in connection with the political turmoil. He stands accused of corruption and embezzlement of public funds, along with several former cabinet members and two former ministers.
The charges against Sylvia Bongo Valentin were formally filed by an investigating judge on Thursday, as announced by the prosecutor, Andre Patrick Roponat, during a televised address on state TV channels on Friday. Roponat also stated that her house arrest order remains in effect, pending further legal proceedings.
Concerns have been raised about Sylvia Bongo Valentin’s treatment during her house arrest, with one of her legal representatives stating earlier this month that she was being held ‘incommunicado outside any legal framework.’
The political landscape in Gabon has witnessed a significant shift following the ousting of Ali Bongo Ondimba, who took power in 2009 after the death of his father, Omar, who had ruled the country for nearly 42 years. The presidential election results, which declared Ali Bongo Ondimba as the victor, were contested by the opposition and the leaders of the military coup, who alleged widespread electoral fraud, corruption, and mismanagement within his government.
As legal proceedings against both Sylvia Bongo Valentin and her son Noureddin continue, Gabon remains at a critical juncture, with political tensions and uncertainty prevailing in the aftermath of the recent coup.