Former Gabonese First Lady Arrested and Charged with Embezzlement

Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, the former First Lady of Gabon, has been incarcerated at the central prison in Libreville following her arrest and formal charges of “money laundering and forgery.”

The charges stem from a military coup in late August, which accused her of embezzling public funds. Her detention comes after an extensive investigation into alleged massive misappropriation of public funds involving Sylvia Bongo and her son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, who is already in custody.

Additionally, six former senior officials from the presidential cabinet have also been detained.

Sylvia Bongo’s lawyer, Me Gisèle Eyue-Bekale, secured a ten-day postponement for a hearing to argue for her release.

This development has sent shockwaves through the political landscape in Gabon, as the former First Lady was considered a significant powerbroker behind the scenes.

The coup, which occurred on the night of August 30th, less than an hour after the announcement of Ali Bongo Ondimba’s reelection, accused Sylvia Bongo and Noureddin of “manipulating” the former president, who had suffered severe consequences from a stroke in 2018.

The military coup leaders also alleged that the mother-son duo were the “actual” de facto leaders of the country for the past five years.

The swift and dramatic shift in power following the coup saw General Brice Oligui Nguema proclaimed as the president of the Transition just two days after the overthrow.

These allegations and charges have ignited a political firestorm in Gabon, with many wondering how the prosecution of the former First Lady and her associates will shape the country’s future.