Gabon’s deposed President Ali Bongo and his two sons have initiated a hunger strike, alleging they are being subjected to “acts of torture and barbarity,” according to statements from the family’s lawyers.
Bongo was removed from power in a military coup last year. The coup took place on August 30th, shortly after the state electoral commission declared that President Ali Bongo had secured a third term in office. Immediately following this announcement, a group of senior Gabonese military officials appeared on national television to declare that they had taken control of the government.
They dissolved key state institutions, including the Senate, National Assembly, and Constitutional Court. Since the coup, Bongo and his sons, Jalil and Bilal, have been under house arrest in their residence in Libreville, the capital of Gabon.
The junta has also detained Ali Bongo’s wife, Sylvia Bongo, and their eldest son, Noureddin, who are facing corruption charges. In a statement, the family’s lawyers claimed that Sylvia and Noureddin had been subjected to physical abuse while in custody. According to the BBC, the lawyers alleged that both were beaten and strangled, and that Noureddin endured torture, whipping, and was “even electrocuted with a taser.”
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Gabonese authorities have yet to respond to these allegations.
Ali Bongo, 64, has been a prominent figure in Gabonese politics, having led the oil-rich nation since 2009. He succeeded his father, Omar Bongo, who had ruled the country for over 40 years. The Bongo family’s long tenure has been marked by both development and controversy.
The family’s lawyers have taken their grievances to the Paris judicial court, filing a complaint just a week before Gabon’s junta leader, General Brice Oligui Nguema, is scheduled to visit France. This international legal move underscores the gravity of the accusations and the family’s desperation for intervention.
The situation in Gabon continues to draw international attention, with human rights organizations closely monitoring the developments. The hunger strike by Ali Bongo and his sons adds a new layer of urgency and complexity to the ongoing political crisis in Gabon, highlighting the severe human rights concerns and the intense power struggle within the country.
