Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, the former spouse of ousted president Ali Bongo, has been jailed following her legal turmoil with charges of money laundering, forgery, and records falsification
Various sources have corroborated this development which marks yet another significant event in the country’s political landscape.
The 60-year-old Franco-Gabonese woman, a prominent figure in the now-defunct Bongo dynasty, was formally accused on September 28. Following an extensive hearing before a judge, she was apprehended and subsequently incarcerated at a prison in the capital city, Libreville, according to reports from Gabonese media.
The developments leading to Sylvia Bongo’s arrest unfolded against the backdrop of a political upheaval that culminated in the August 30 coup, ending 55 years of Bongo rule. Ali Bongo, who had governed Gabon since 2009, was dethroned by military leaders shortly after being declared the victor in a contested presidential election.
Allegations of fraud by the opposition and the military coup leaders further fueled the already tense political atmosphere. Accusations of widespread corruption and mismanagement were also levied against Ali Bongo’s regime.
During her house arrest in Libreville preceding the coup, Sylvia Bongo was purportedly wielding influence alongside one of the couple’s sons. The military leaders behind the coup allege that she manipulated the former president, who had been grappling with the aftermath of a severe stroke in 2018.
In a sweeping claim, they assert that Sylvia Bongo and her son had been orchestrating affairs in the oil-rich country for the past five years, misappropriating public funds in the process. The legal proceedings against Sylvia Bongo mark a significant chapter in the complex narrative of Gabonese politics.
