In a video circulating on the internet, the President of the Republic of Gabon speaks in English: “I have been arrested, I ask the population to make some ‘noise’ for my release.”
On Wednesday, August 30th, the ousted President Ali Bongo sent a message on social media. Clearly concerned, he says in English, “I am Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon,” “I’m sending a message to all our friends around the world to tell them to make some noise” about “the people who have arrested me and my family,” he says in English.
Ali Bongo, who has been leading Gabon for over 14 years at the age of 64, had been declared the winner of Saturday’s election just moments before the coup. “My son is somewhere, my wife is in another place, and I am at the residence and nothing is happening, I don’t know what’s going on,” Mr. Bongo continues. “I’m calling on you to make some noise,” he repeats three times.
His son and close advisor Noureddin Bongo Valentin has been “arrested” along with six other young members of Mr. Bongo’s inner professional circle, notably on charges of “high treason,” “massive embezzlement of public funds,” and “forgery of the President’s signature,” announced the coup’s military leaders in late morning. The military has not disclosed the fate of his Franco-Gabonese wife Sylvia Bongo Ondimba.
