Former Gabonese president Ali Bongo released
By Nambu Bernadette Franka
Former Gabonese president Ali Bongo Ondimba has been released from house arrest on Wednesday September 6, 2023.
According to the statement made in the evening on Gabon’s national television by Gabon’s military spokesperson, Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi, Ali Bongo is free to move about and even travel abroad if he wishes.
“Given his state of health, the former president of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is free to move about. He may, if he wishes, travel abroad for medical checkups,” the military spokesperson said.
On August 30, 2023, a video circulated showing deposed president Ali Bongo calling on ‘his friends around the world to make noise’ for his release from house arrest.
Many heads of states and organizations had condemn the military takeover calling on the military to respect human integrity of the former president.
Bongo’s release signed by the new president General Brice Oligui Nguema, came days after the new president was sworn into power on Monday September 4, 2023.
A UNOCA representative visited Bongo to know if he was in good health.
Oligui has served as a body guard to Bongo’s late father and also headed the country’s republican guard.
The 64-year-old Bongo had ruled Gabon, since succeeding his father Omar Bongo, who died in 2009, after 42 years in power.
