Wife, Son Of Ousted Gabon Leader Sentenced To 20 Years In Graft Case

A Gabon court has sentenced former First Lady Sylvia Bongo and her son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, to 20 years in prison for embezzling public funds and laundering money, deepening the downfall of the Bongo political dynasty toppled in a 2023 coup.

The judgment, delivered on Wednesday after a two-day trial, found the pair guilty of diverting billions of CFA francs for personal use while exploiting the frail health of ex-president Ali Bongo, who suffered a stroke in 2018.

Both Sylvia, 62, and Noureddin, 33, were tried in absentia and are currently in London, where they were allowed to travel for medical reasons earlier this year. Prosecutors accused them of manipulating state finances to acquire oil fields, two Boeing aircraft, and properties in Gabon, Morocco, and London.

They were said to have embezzled a total of 4.9 billion CFA francs (nearly $8.7 million), according to public prosecutor Eddy Minang, who told the court the funds were “recycled, laundered and reinvested” through private channels.

Family Denies Wrongdoing

Sylvia and Noureddin have both denied the allegations, dismissing the case as politically motivated. In a statement to AFP, Noureddin described the ruling as “predetermined” and accused the current government of orchestrating a “legal farce” to erase the family’s legacy.

See also: Gabon’s Transitional Government Frees Ali Bongo and Family, Signaling Political Shift

“We know full well that if we go back, we will suffer things far worse than we have already suffered,” he said, adding that their Gabonese lawyer boycotted the proceedings for safety reasons.

Ali Bongo was ousted from power in August 2023, moments after being declared winner of a disputed presidential election. His removal ended 55 years of family rule in the oil-rich Central African nation and brought General Brice Oligui Nguema to power.

Oligui, now Gabon’s president, has denied the torture claims levelled by the Bongo family, promising that the trial was “fair and transparent.” Meanwhile, ten former allies of the Bongos are also facing prosecution for their roles in the alleged corruption scheme.