Ousted Gabonese President, Ali Bongo Confirms His Arrest And Detention Of Wife And Son, Asks ‘Friends’ To Help, ‘Make Noise’

In the wake of his overthrow by military soldiers in the oil-rich nation of Gabon in a coup, the deposed president Ali Bongo has urged his “friends” to “make noise.”

 

The president, who was seated, said that he had been arrested in a video.

 

He claimed that while his wife was “in another area,” his son was “in another location.”

 

He declared: “I’m sending a message to all the friends we have throughout the world to tell them to make noise, because the people here have detained me and my family.

 

I’m at the house; my wife is somewhere else; and my son is somewhere else. I’m currently at the house, and nothing is occurring. Because I don’t know what’s happening, I’m calling you primarily to raise a fuss. I’m grateful to you.

 

The 64-year-old Alain Bernard Bongo assumed the presidency of Gabon in 2009 following the death of his father, Omar Bongo, who had controlled the country for nearly 42 years starting in 1967. He was born in Congo-Brazzaville on February 9, 1959.

 

Omar Bongo passed away from colorectal cancer on June 8, 2009, in Spain. His passing was followed by a state funeral from June 11 to 18 and a month of sorrow.

 

According to the country’s military authorities, Bongo’s son and close adviser Noureddin Bongo Valentin, his chief of staff Ian Ghislain Ngoulou and his deputy, two additional presidential advisers, and the two top PDG party members had all been detained.

 

Among other things, they have been charged with treason, theft, corruption, and forging the president’s signature.

 

While former colonial power France stated it is “following developments in Gabon with the utmost interest,” China demanded that Bongo’s safety be assured.

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