The trial of Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and Noureddin Bongo Valentin, wife and son of ousted Gabonese president Ali Bongo Ondimba, began Monday before Gabon’s Special Criminal Court and is expected to continue throughout the week. They are among 13 defendants accused of exploiting presidential resources for personal enrichment during Ali Bongo’s tenure.
The charges include embezzlement of public funds, money laundering, active corruption, and forgery of official documents a total of 12 counts brought against the group. Prosecutors allege that billions of CFA francs were funneled through shell companies and offshore accounts, implicating several former presidential aides alongside the Bongo family members.
Sylvia and Noureddin were arrested in August 2023, shortly after a military coup ended the Bongo family’s 55-year rule. They were detained for nearly 20 months before being released in May 2025. During their incarceration in Libreville, they claim to have endured torture and inhumane treatment, describing their ordeal as “criminal and cruel” in a July statement.
Now in exile in London, both have refused to attend the trial, calling it politically motivated. Noureddin Bongo has labeled the proceedings a “legal farce,” arguing they fail to meet standards of fairness and due process. He has also taken to social media, sharing hidden camera footage to expose alleged abuses by the current administration under President Brice Oligui Nguema.
In response, the Gabonese presidency has accused Noureddin of attempting to destabilize the country, intensifying political tensions surrounding the case. As the trial unfolds, it marks a pivotal moment in Gabon’s post-coup reckoning with its former ruling elite.
