Sylvia Bongo, the exiled wife of Gabon’s deposed president Ali Bongo Ondimba, went on trial for corruption on Monday, marking a new chapter in the aftermath of the 2023 coup that ended the Bongo family’s 55-year rule.
The 62-year-old former first lady, who currently resides in London, is accused of manipulating her husband to embezzle public funds from the oil-rich Central African nation. Her son and co-defendant, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, has denounced the proceedings as a “legal farce.”
Both Sylvia and Noureddin allege they were tortured during their 20-month detention following the August 30, 2023 coup, which brought General Brice Oligui Nguema to power. They were granted conditional bail in May and permitted to leave Gabon for medical reasons.
“We know full well that if we go back, we will suffer things far worse than what we have already endured,” Noureddin, 33, told AFP ahead of the trial.
The trial opened at the Court of Appeal in Libreville, with nine of the twelve defendants present—mostly close allies of the Bongo family. Dozens of onlookers gathered outside the courtroom, reflecting strong public interest in the high-profile case.
Ali Bongo, who succeeded his father Omar in 2009 after the latter’s 41-year rule, is not facing prosecution. However, prosecutors accuse his wife and son of exploiting his frail health following a 2018 stroke to enrich themselves and tighten their grip on power.
“We are surprised not to see them this morning,” state prosecutor Eddy Minang told the court.
In May 2024, Sylvia and Noureddin filed a lawsuit in France, where they hold citizenship, alleging they were “repeatedly and violently tortured” by officers loyal to President Oligui. The family claims Gabon’s judiciary is under political pressure to secure a conviction.
President Oligui, who officially took office in April after resigning his military post, has denied the torture allegations and pledged that the Bongos would receive a fair trial.
