Gabon’s ousted President Ali Bongo flees to Angola with family

Ali Bongo, the former president of Gabon who was ousted in a coup in August 2023, has flown to Angola with his wife and son.

The Angolan presidency confirmed the development in a statement on Friday.

Bongo’s family had ruled Gabon for 55 years before he was overthrown by Brice Oligui Nguema, who has since been sworn in as president.

Bongo’s wife, Sylvia, and son, Noureddin, were held in custody since the coup on charges of embezzlement and money laundering.

They were recently transferred from prison to house arrest following calls for their release by African Union officials.

The Bongo family’s release comes after talks between Angolan President Joao Lourenco and Gabon’s new leader, Brice Oligui Nguema.

The family arrived in Luanda, Angola’s capital, on May 16, 2025.

The Angolan presidency announced their arrival in a post on social media, accompanied by photographs showing the former leader being welcomed at an airport.

Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, Oligui’s main rival in the presidential election, said the family’s release demonstrated that their detention “did not respect the framework of law and justice”.

He added that President Oligui Nguema “did not show clemency: he had to bow to international demands after what everyone understood to be an abuse of power”.

The African Union had called for the release of Bongo’s family and for guarantees that their rights and health would be protected.

Gabon’s membership in the AU was suspended after the coup, but was reinstated following a meeting between Lourenco and Oligui.

The Bongo family travails

The Bongo family’s travails began in August 2023 when Ali Bongo, the former president of Gabon, was ousted in a military coup led by his cousin, Brice Oligui Nguema. Here’s what happened:

Ali Bongo had ruled Gabon since 2009, taking over from his father Omar Bongo Ondimba, who ruled for 41 years.

After the coup, Ali Bongo was initially placed under house arrest in Libreville, despite officials claiming he was free to move as he wished.

His supporters disputed this, saying he was effectively under house arrest and didn’t have the freedom to leave the city.

Bongo’s wife, Sylvia, and son, Noureddin, were detained on charges of embezzlement and money laundering.

They were held in basement cells in the presidential palace and later transferred to house arrest on May 9, 2025, following calls for their release by African Union officials.

Their lawyers alleged they suffered torture while in detention, which Oligui Nguema denied.

The family’s release came after talks between Angolan President Joao Lourenco and Gabon’s new leader, Brice Oligui Nguema.

On May 16, 2025, the Bongo family arrived in Luanda, Angola’s capital, where they were welcomed at the airport.

The Angolan presidency announced their arrival, stating the family would decide which country they want to live in as exiles.

Reactions to the family’s release were mixed. Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze, Oligui’s main rival, said the release demonstrated that the detention “did not respect the framework of law and justice” and that Oligui Nguema “had to bow to international demands”.

Some Gabonese citizens questioned the country’s sovereignty, feeling the release was a result of international pressure.

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