Ali Bongo Exits Gabon: What’s Next for the Country?
By Different Perspectives
Former Gabonese president Ali Bongo has officially left the country. Alongside his wife Sylvia and son Noureddin, Bongo flew to Angola late Thursday night, ending nearly a year of post-coup uncertainty.
Their departure follows rising pressure from the African Union, which had suspended Gabon after the August 2023 military takeover. While Ali Bongo had been under house arrest, Sylvia and Noureddin faced embezzlement and money laundering charges—and were allegedly tortured in custody, a claim denied by Gabon’s transitional government.
With the family now in exile, questions swirl about the future of Gabon’s political transition—and why Angola accepted them.
Different Perspectives spoke with veteran journalist Rafael Marques, Executive Director of the Ufolo Center for Good Governance, based in Luanda. He told us:
“President Ali Bongo is welcome to Angola, but the optics don’t look good for the government to offer asylum—especially considering his image as one of the most corrupt leaders in the region.”
Ndiho Media,LLC. 