Former Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba has ended months of public silence to challenge the terms used by the Gabonese Republic in the French "illicit assets" case. In a video statement, Bongo directly criticized the current authorities in Libreville. His defense focuses on his father's legacy, with Bongo arguing that the judicial debate itself is not the issue, but rather the observations submitted by Libreville that he believes tarnish his father's memory.
Bongo's comments come two days after a similar statement from Ali Akbar Onanga Y'Obegue, a former pillar of Bongo's regime, who also deemed the state's position in the case "inacceptable". The point of contention dates back to March 14, 2023, when Gabon, under Bongo's presidency, became a civil party in the case. At the time, the stated goal was to protect state interests if embezzlement was proven, not to tarnish the memory of the former president.
Bongo's statement prompted a swift reaction from Serge Abessolo, who issued a stern rebuttal the following day. Abessolo opposed Bongo's defense of his father's legacy with his own record of 14 years in power. Abessolo argued that honoring a father's legacy is demonstrated through actions taken to defend it, questioning Bongo's own role in the placement of Omar Bongo's children during his rule.
The "illicit assets" case was opened in France in 2010, following complaints from NGOs Sherpa and Transparency International against three African heads of state and their families. The case against Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea concluded in July 2021, with the vice-president sentenced to three years' probation, a €30 million fine, and confiscation of his French assets.
The cases involving the Bongo and Sassou Nguesso families remain under investigation, 15 years after the case was opened. The recent observations submitted by the Gabonese Republic, which sparked the dispute between Bongo and the current authorities, are linked to this ongoing procedure.
This controversy over Omar Bongo's legacy comes as Ali Bongo has been making multiple public statements in recent weeks, including a long interview about the August 2023 coup and a declaration accusing France of orchestrating his downfall. The debate also revives an older discussion on the sharing of the Bongo family's legacy, a subject that caused turmoil in 2013.
The ongoing tensions within Ali Bongo's party have been exacerbated by this controversy, with some questioning the former president's actions and motivations. As the "illicit assets" case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this will impact Gabon's politics and the legacy of Omar Bongo.
Key points
- Ali Bongo breaks months of silence to defend his father's legacy in the "illicit assets" case.
- The case has been ongoing since 2010, with the Bongo and Sassou Nguesso families' cases still under investigation.
- The controversy has sparked tensions within Ali Bongo's party and revived debates on the Bongo family's legacy.
