The wife and son of Gabon’s former president, Ali Bongo, have been transferred from prison to house arrest, although the timing of their potential trial for alleged financial crimes remains unclear, according to two sources reported by Reuters.
Sylvia Bongo, 62, and Nourredin Bongo, 33, were detained shortly after Ali Bongo was ousted in a military coup over a year and a half ago. Most recently, they were held in basement cells in the presidential palace in Libreville, one source indicated.
The transfer to house arrest, where they have rejoined Ali Bongo, occurred on May 9 following pressure from African Union officials for their release. Prior to this, on May 1, one source mentioned that they had been hospitalized after staging a hunger strike.
Sylvia Bongo and Nourredin Bongo are accused of crimes including embezzlement and money laundering. Their supporters have claimed they were subjected to torture while in custody.
In an interview with Radio France Internationale in March, President Brice Oligui Nguema denied the torture allegations and affirmed that their trials would proceed.
Gabon’s communications minister, Paul-Marie Gondjout, did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.
Nguema was elected to a seven-year term last month with nearly 95% of the vote and was sworn into office on May 3.
During a meeting on April 30, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council lifted its suspension of Gabon, which was initially imposed after the coup.
In a statement, the council called for the immediate release of Ali Bongo’s family and assurances that their rights and health would be protected.
A representative for the Bongo family stated that Sylvia and Nourredin Bongo would not be making any public comments.
Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, a former prime minister under Bongo who ran against Nguema in the election, commented, “This house arrest, which their lawyers have long been calling for, cannot be seen as clemency on the part of a government that has violated all the rights of the defence for more than 20 months.”
He added, “However, it is to be hoped that the trial, if it takes place, will respect all the legal guarantees of impartiality, fairness and transparency.”
