Gabon: Junta allows Ali Bongo to travel abroad for medical treatment
1 min read
Ali Bongo
Military authorities in the oil rich Gabon Republic, have granted Ali Bongo, the former President permission to travel abroad for medical check-up.
This was confirmed in a statement by Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, spokesman for the transitional government.
“Given his state of health, the former President of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is free to move.
“He can, if he wishes, go abroad to carry out his medical checks”.
Though, the statement was signed by General Brice Nguema, who was sworn in as the new head of State on Monday.
Nguema who was the commander-in-chief of the Gabonese Republican Guard, masterminded the military coup that ended Bongo’s era whose family has held power for over 56 years.
The coup was launched following the announcement of the reelection of President Ali Bongo Ondimba by the national electoral body.
In his remarks on Monday, the transitional leader, 48, noted that the military took “their responsibilities” in the face of an “outrageously biased electoral process”
“The defense and security forces of our country took their responsibilities by refusing the electoral coup,” he explained.
Bongo, 64, once served as minister of defense and other posts in the government.
He was elected president of Gabon in 2009 and was reelected in 2016.
He was under house arrest, while some of his advisers and senior officials, including his son Noureddin Bongo Valentin, were said to have been arrested for treason, embezzlement and corruption, among other allegations.
