After months of silence, former Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba addressed the Gabonese aspect of the "malacquired assets" case on September 19, 2026. In a video statement, he disputed the observations made by the Gabonese government, which he believes harm his father's legacy. Ali Bongo stated that he will not contest the French judicial procedure but disagrees with the Gabonese government's stance.
Ali Bongo's statement comes weeks after the French National Financial Prosecutor's Office requisitioned the trial of 18 individuals and five companies, including nine children of Omar Bongo Ondimba, Ali Bongo's father. The properties in question are valued at approximately €85 million. Ali Bongo himself is not among those targeted by the requisitions. The case, initiated by Transparency International and Sherpa, has been ongoing in France for several years.
Ali Bongo emphasized that as a son, he can accept criticism of his father's political actions but not the tarnishing of his memory. He stressed that the facts should be examined by the courts and refused to intervene in the ongoing judicial process. The former president's statement sparked reactions in Gabon, with some commentators recalling that the Gabonese government had already participated in the procedure during Ali Bongo's presidency.
An archive published by Challenges on January 14, 2011, revealed that the Gabonese government had decided to constitute itself as a civil party in the case, a decision made by Ali Bongo himself as president. However, this decision did not imply a condemnation of Omar Bongo or a recognition of guilt. The chronology of events has sparked debate, with some critics accusing Ali Bongo of selective amnesia.
The "malacquired assets" case has taken on a strong political and memorial dimension in Gabon, with Ali Bongo's defense of his father's legacy and the reminders of decisions made during his own presidency. The case remains in the hands of the French judiciary, with the prosecutor's requisitions awaiting the magistrates' decisions on whether to hold a trial.
The affair has sparked a broader debate about Omar Bongo's legacy, his long reign, and the decisions made by Ali Bongo during his own presidency. Ali Bongo's statement has reopened a discussion that goes beyond the French judicial procedure. The case continues to unfold, with its outcome uncertain.
The reactions to Ali Bongo's statement have been mixed, with some calling for accountability and others defending his right to protect his father's memory. The case has highlighted the complexities of Gabon's past and the challenges of addressing corruption and accountability in the country's politics.
Key points
- Ali Bongo disputes Gabonese government's observations on his father's legacy in "malacquired assets" case.
- French National Financial Prosecutor's Office requisitions trial of 18 individuals and five companies in the case.
- Ali Bongo's statement sparks debate about Omar Bongo's legacy and Ali Bongo's own presidency.
