Ousted Gabon president, Ali Bongo appeals to ‘friends’ to speak up over coup
A video made from an unconfirmed video at an undisclosed location obtained by AFPTV on August 30, 2023 shows Gabon’s deposed president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, calling on “his friends around the world to make some noise” while under house arrest.
Recall that some Rebel officers in the oil-rich central African state of Gabon announced on August 30, 2023 they had seized power following disputed elections in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, in power since 2009, had been declared victor.
Bongo, 64, whose family has ruled Gabon for over 55 years, was placed under house arrest and one of his sons arrested for treason, the coup leaders said.
Speaking from his undisclosed location, Ali Bongo said, “I’m sending a message to all friends that we have all over the world to tell them to make noise for… the people here who arrested me and my family.”
Bongo, 64, whose family has ruled Gabon for over 55 years, was placed under house arrest and one of his sons arrested for treason, the coup leaders said.
Bongo, who was recorded while seated but looked clearly worried, said his son was in one location while his wife was “in another place”.
“I’m at the residence and nothing is happening, I don’t know what’s going on, I’m calling (on) you to make noise,” he said.
AFP was not able to determine where or when the video was captured.
Earlier, a military leader said Bongo’s son and close adviser Noureddin Bongo Valentin, his chief of staff Ian Ghislain Ngoulou as well as his deputy, two other presidential advisers and the two top officials in the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) had been arrested.
They are accused of treason, embezzlement, corruption and falsifying the president’s signature, among other allegations, he said.
China has called on Bongo’s safety to be guaranteed, while former colonial power France has said it is watching developments in Gabon “with the greatest attention”.
Watch video below:
