Ali Bongo and Family Released
By Thabo Mosia
Gabon’s former president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, along with his wife Sylvia and son Noureddin, have been released from detention and have relocated to Angola, marking the end of nearly two years of confinement following the August 2023 military coup that ousted Bongo from power. The Angolan presidency confirmed their arrival in Luanda on Friday, 16 May 2025, stating that the release followed discussions between Angolan President João Lourenço and Gabon’s transitional leader, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
The Bongo family’s release comes after sustained international pressure and diplomatic negotiations. Lawyers representing the family in France described their detention as “arbitrary and cruel,” alleging that Sylvia and Noureddin were subjected to torture while held in underground cells. Despite their release, Gabonese prosecutor Eddy Minang emphasized that Sylvia and Noureddin have been provisionally freed and are still awaiting trial on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Ali Bongo himself has not been formally charged.  
The release and relocation of the Bongo family coincide with Gabon’s recent reintegration into the African Union, which had suspended the country following the 2023 coup. Critics, including opposition figures and members of Gabon’s transitional parliament, have expressed concerns over the manner of the family’s release, suggesting it was a concession to international demands and questioning the implications for Gabon’s sovereignty. 
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