The legal representatives of Sylvia Bongo, a Franco-Gabonese citizen and the wife of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who has been placed under house arrest by military personnel following a coup d’État on Wednesday, filed a complaint in France on Friday for arbitrary detention. This development was announced by lawyers Me François Zimeray and Jessica Finelle.
“Mme Valentin, also known as Mrs. Bongo, has been deprived of her liberty since the coup on August 30th, 2023, along with her younger son, Jalil,” expressed the two lawyers in a joint statement. Meanwhile, another son, Nourredin Bongo Valentin, “is incarcerated in an undisclosed location.” Before this, the military had remained silent regarding the status of Mrs. Bongo, who has been married to Ali since 1989 and shares four children with him.
The legal complaint underscores the concerns surrounding the circumstances of Mrs. Bongo’s detention and her family’s safety amid the unfolding political turmoil in Gabon. As the situation continues to evolve, international attention remains focused on the events in the country, with many eagerly awaiting developments and resolutions in the days ahead.