Former Gabonese President Ali Bongo, who was ousted in a 2023 military coup, has left Gabon for Angola along with his wife Sylvia and son Noureddin, according to a statement from Angola’s presidency posted on Facebook.
The move follows the transfer of Sylvia, 62, and Noureddin, 33, from prison to house arrest on May 9. They had been detained shortly after the August 2023 coup and faced charges including embezzlement and money laundering. Two sources told Reuters the family departed Gabon late Thursday night.
Ali Bongo, 66, was initially placed under house arrest following the coup, though authorities later claimed he was free to move. His supporters disputed this, noting he had not been seen outside Libreville until now.
Reports suggest Sylvia and Noureddin had been held in basement cells at the presidential palace before being placed under house arrest. Their supporters allege they were mistreated while in custody—claims denied by coup leader and current President Brice Oligui Nguema.
Angolan officials did not provide further details on the terms of the Bongo family’s stay. Gabon’s communications minister, Paul-Marie Gondjout, did not respond to a request for comment.
President Nguema, who led the August coup, was sworn in earlier this month after officially securing nearly 95 percent of the vote in a controversial election. On April 30, the African Union readmitted Gabon to its ranks after suspending it post-coup. The AU’s Peace and Security Council also called for the immediate release of the Bongo family and assurances regarding their rights and well-being.
Ali Bongo had ruled Gabon since 2009, succeeding his father, Omar Bongo, who led the country for over 40 years.