A court in Gabon has issued a 20-year prison sentence to former First Lady Sylvia Bongo and Noureddin Bongo, the son of deposed President Ali Bongo, after a trial lasting two days. The two were found guilty of embezzlement and corruption on Tuesday night, following a trial that commenced a day earlier in their absence. Both individuals received fines of 100 million CFA francs (approximately $177,000 or £135,000), while Noureddin was additionally ordered to compensate the Gabonese state with 1.2 trillion CFA francs (about $2.1 billion or £1.6 billion) for financial damages.
The charges against them included allegations of exploiting Ali Bongo’s medical condition, as he suffered a stroke in 2018, to divert state resources for personal gain. Prior to their trial, Sylvia and Noureddin Bongo characterized the proceedings as “a legal farce.”
Ali Bongo was removed from power in an August 2023 coup led by Brice Oligui Nguema, who has since transitioned from military leader to elected president earlier this year. Following the coup, Sylvia and Noureddin Bongo were detained for 20 months before being released in May on medical grounds, allowing them to leave the country for London. Meanwhile, Ali Bongo has not faced any legal actions and was reportedly released from house arrest, with the government stating he was free to move.
Gabonese state prosecutor Eddy Minang expressed surprise at the absence of Sylvia and Noureddin in court at the trial’s start. Although they were sentenced, the trial of nine other co-accused, who were former allies of the Bongos, is set to continue until Friday. The Bongo family has governed Gabon for over 50 years, with Ali Bongo sharing a political legacy that began with his father, Omar Bongo. Despite Gabon’s oil wealth, around one-third of the population lives below the poverty line, according to UN estimates.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c797yg3pw7wo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss