In a surprising turn of events, former Gabonese President Ali Bongo has been released from house arrest by the military junta, eight days after being deposed from his presidency.
The new military leadership has granted him permission to leave the country for medical treatment, as his health reportedly deteriorated during the recent political turmoil.
Bongo’s ousting occurred on the same day that the electoral commission declared his victory in a contentious third-term re-election bid. Monday saw the swearing-in of General Brice Nguema, the mastermind behind the coup and a close relative of Bongo, as the interim president.
General Nguema, who shares a familial connection with the ousted president as his cousin, had previously served as a bodyguard to Bongo’s late father and also headed the country’s elite republican guard.
The official statement announcing Ali Bongo’s release from house arrest was issued by General Nguema himself, underscoring the military’s control over the situation. Ulrich Manfoumbi, the military spokesperson, relayed the decision on national television during a Wednesday evening broadcast.
“Given his state of health, the former President of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is free to move about,” stated Manfoumbi. “He may, if he wishes, travel abroad for medical checkups.”
The release of Ali Bongo marks a significant development in the ongoing political crisis, as his father, Omar Bongo, had ruled the nation from 1967 until his passing in 2009, paving the way for Ali to ascend to the presidency.
However, despite these developments, the military junta is yet to announce a clear plan or timetable for a transition to civilian rule, leaving the future of Gabon’s governance in uncertainty. The nation and international observers continue to closely monitor the situation as events unfold.
