In Gabon, the former head of state, Ali Bongo, together with two of his sons, has embarked on a hunger strike as a form of protest against what is being described by their family attorney as “torturous and barbaric acts.”
Ali Bongo was removed from power through a military coup in August 2023, shortly after being declared the winner in a controversial presidential election.
Following the coup, he has been confined to his residence in Libreville, Gabon’s capital, with his sons Jalil and Bilal.
Concurrently, his wife Sylvia and their eldest son Noureddin are detained and facing trial, accused of corruption.
In a recent press release, the family’s legal representative detailed allegations of torture against Noureddin and Sylvia during their incarceration.
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The reported abuses include beatings, strangulation, and electrocution with a taser.
A legal complaint has been filed with a court in Paris, coinciding with an upcoming visit to France by the junta leader, Gen Brice Oligui Nguema.
There has been no immediate response from the Gabonese authorities regarding these serious accusations.
At the age of 64, Ali Bongo’s presidential tenure began in 2009, succeeding his father, who maintained a four-decade grip on power.
