Former Gabon First Lady and Son Refuse to Return for Embezzlement Trial
Gabon’s former First Lady, Sylvia Bongo, and her son Noureddin Bongo, have declined to return to Libreville to face trial over allegations of embezzling public funds. Their French lawyer made this known on Wednesday, describing the upcoming court proceedings as a “show trial.”
Following the August 2023 coup that ended more than five decades of Bongo family rule in Gabon, Sylvia and Noureddin have been on conditional bail in London.
According to their lawyer, Pierre-Olivier Sur, it would be impossible for his clients to “return to the custody of their tormentors.” He argued that the November 10 hearing scheduled in Gabon’s capital could not proceed fairly or legally.
Their legal team further stated that neither Sylvia nor Noureddin had received official court summonses at their London residence, learning about the trial date only through media reports.
Sur and fellow lawyer François Zimeray accused Gabon’s government of putting undue political pressure on the judiciary, claiming the case was being manipulated for political reasons.
Allegations of Political Interference
In July, the Bongo family released a video showing a Gabonese judge allegedly confessing to receiving pressure from members of the ruling military junta to pursue the charges against them.
“We understand that prosecutors and judges in Gabon are under heavy pressure to satisfy President Brice Oligui Nguema with a quick, public trial,” Sur said. “What we’re witnessing is the persecution of legal professionals and a disregard for the fundamental principles of a fair trial.”
Since the coup led by Oligui, Sylvia Bongo, aged 62, has faced multiple charges, including money laundering, forgery, and falsification of documents. Initially placed under house arrest, she was later imprisoned.
The coup ended 55 years of Bongo family dominance in the oil-rich Central African nation. Both Sylvia and Noureddin, who hold French citizenship, are accused of having manipulated former President Ali Bongo, who suffered a stroke in 2018, to maintain control of the government for personal benefit.
Noureddin, 33, was also detained but later released alongside his mother in May. Both have claimed they were tortured while in military custody and have since filed a legal complaint in France alleging arbitrary detention and torture.
President Oligui, who officially assumed office in April, denied all allegations of mistreatment, insisting that Sylvia and Noureddin will receive a fair and lawful trial in Gabon.
