In a significant turn of events, military officers who orchestrated a coup in Gabon by overthrowing President Ali Bongo have taken further measures by detaining his son, as reported by Alarabiya News.
The unfolding scenario, first brought to light, showcased a dozen soldiers making a televised declaration about the ousting of Bongo’s administration. Additional emerging accounts reveal that they have also taken into custody Bongo’s son, citing “treason” charges, along with his associates.
A formal statement conveyed on state TV elaborated that “President Ali Bongo has been placed under house arrest, in the company of his family and medical personnel.” Noureddin Bongo Valentin, Bongo’s son and trusted counselor, Ian Ghislain Ngoulou, the chief of staff, as well as the deputy, two other key presidential advisors, and the top-ranking figures within the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) have all been apprehended, confirmed a military spokesperson.
The allegations against the detained individuals encompass a range of offenses, including treason, embezzlement, corruption, and the forging of the president’s signature, among other charges, as articulated by a leading military official.
Read Also: ECOWAS, Military Intervention Amidst Tinubu’s Unpopularity
This abrupt upheaval within Gabon follows a worrying trend of military takeovers traversing West and Central Africa. The developments come at a time when the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is already grappling with the aftermath of the Niger crisis that unfolded on July 26, casting a cloud of uncertainty over the region’s stability.
