The wife of Gabon’s ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, has been charged with “money laundering” and other offenses, according to the public prosecutor Andre Patrick Roponat.
This comes one month after a coup toppled her husband’s regime. The coup leader has accused Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin and one of the couple’s sons of pulling the strings in the oil-rich country.
Their eldest son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, has already been charged with corruption and embezzlement of public funds, along with several former cabinet members and ex-ministers.
Sylvia Bongo was charged by an investigating judge and has been ordered to remain under house arrest in the capital, Libreville. She faces additional charges, including concealment and forgery.
Since the coup on August 30, Sylvia Bongo has been isolated from her husband, and her French lawyers have filed a complaint in Paris, describing her situation as “hostage-taking.”
Ali Bongo, who had ruled Gabon since 2009, was overthrown by military leaders shortly after being declared the winner in a presidential election.
The opposition and military coup leaders deemed the election fraudulent and accused his regime of widespread corruption and mismanagement.
Gabon has witnessed significant political turmoil, with Ali Bongo succeeding his father Omar in 2009 after nearly 42 years of his rule.
