Gabon’s former President Ali Bongo Ondimba and his family have officially departed the country for exile in Angola, marking the end of 19 months spent either under house arrest or behind bars following the 2023 military coup.
Their departure comes just days after Bongo’s wife, Sylvia Bongo Valentin, and their son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, were moved from prison to house arrest while awaiting trial on charges of embezzlement and money laundering.
The Bongo family’s long rule over Gabon came to an abrupt halt in August 2023, when General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema staged a military takeover only hours after Bongo had been declared the winner of a controversial presidential election. The coup, which was welcomed by sections of the population and condemned by international observers, ended a 56-year dynastic rule—first under Bongo’s father, Omar Bongo, and then under Ali Bongo himself.
Now, nearly two years after the coup, the Bongo family has been allowed to leave Gabon under an agreement brokered between Angolan President João Lourenço and General Oligui Nguema. The Angolan presidency announced the development in a public statement shared via Facebook on Thursday, describing the move as part of a broader diplomatic effort to normalise relations between Libreville and Luanda.
“The Angolan President João Lourenço visited Libreville with the aim of fostering better bilateral relations between Angola and Gabon. During this mission, it was agreed that the former president of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, along with his family, would be received in Angola for humanitarian reasons,” the statement read.
According to Angolan officials, President Lourenço traveled to Libreville earlier this week to hold direct talks with Nguema. The visit was part of a renewed initiative to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two Central African nations—relations that had cooled significantly following the political upheaval in Gabon.
It was during these discussions that the agreement was reached, paving the way for the Bongo family’s exit from Gabonese territory. Although neither government disclosed details about the duration or terms of the exile, officials confirmed that the decision was backed by the African Union, which Lourenço currently chairs.
The African Union has, on several occasions since the 2023 coup, urged Gabon’s transitional authorities to ensure humane treatment and due process for Bongo and his family. The move to allow them to leave for Angola is seen as a diplomatic gesture, likely aimed at appeasing international pressure and creating space for national reconciliation.
Meanwhile, lawyers representing Sylvia and Noureddin Bongo had previously raised alarms over their deteriorating health while in detention. Speaking to the press in late April, one of the family’s attorneys expressed serious concern about the prison conditions, stating: “Sylvia Bongo’s health has significantly worsened due to prolonged incarceration and lack of adequate medical care. We urgently call on the authorities to ensure she receives the attention she needs.”
Those health concerns, coupled with growing pressure from regional blocs and human rights organizations, appear to have accelerated negotiations for the Bongo family’s release and subsequent departure.
Ali Bongo, now 66, was first placed under house arrest immediately after the coup, with the military citing widespread corruption and electoral fraud as key justifications for the seizure of power. The former president had already been grappling with health issues following a debilitating stroke in 2018 that left him visibly weakened and often absent from public life.
His son, Noureddin, had been widely seen as a potential successor and was at the center of the regime’s power structure in the final years of Bongo’s presidency. However, after the coup, Noureddin and several senior officials from the previous government were arrested and accused of misappropriating public funds.
The transitional government, led by General Oligui Nguema, has since promised a return to civilian rule, though no firm timeline for elections has been announced. In April 2025, Nguema was declared the winner of a new presidential election, a vote that many believe consolidated his grip on power. However, questions remain about the inclusiveness and transparency of the electoral process under military oversight.
Nguema, a former head of the presidential guard and relative of the Bongo family, has tried to position himself as a reformist leader intent on breaking from Gabon’s autocratic past. His government has launched a series of anti-corruption investigations and promised constitutional reforms, but critics argue that more needs to be done to open up political space and ensure accountability.
Reacting to the Bongo family’s departure, a senior government official in Libreville who requested anonymity said: “This is a delicate chapter in our country’s history. Allowing the former president to go into exile is not a concession of guilt or innocence—it is a political decision made in the interest of national unity and future stability.”
Political analysts say the exile deal could help Nguema build credibility with international partners and regional powers. “This agreement is symbolic. It’s a sign that Gabon’s military rulers are willing to engage diplomatically and avoid escalating tensions,” said Professor Marie-Elise Abanda, a political scientist based in Yaoundé.
For now, Ali Bongo and his family are expected to remain in Angola under protection. It is unclear whether Sylvia and Noureddin will still face trial or if the charges will be dropped as part of the diplomatic deal.
As Gabon turns a new page, many citizens are watching closely to see whether promises of reform and transparency will be fulfilled—or whether the nation remains caught in the shadow of dynastic politics.
