Ali Akbar Onanga Y'Obegue, secretary general of Gabon's ruling Parti Démocratique Gabonais (PDG), has stated that the party will not intervene in the French judicial procedure regarding the "malacquired assets" case. Onanga Y'Obegue made these comments during an interview on Africa Radio on September 28, 2026. He emphasized that the party's primary concern is defending the memory of Omar Bongo Ondimba, the late president of Gabon and father of Ali Bongo Ondimba.
The "malacquired assets" case involves allegations of assets acquired fraudulently in France and attributed to Gabonese leaders. Ali Bongo Ondimba, the former president of Gabon, recently addressed the issue in a video statement on September 19, 2026. Onanga Y'Obegue explained that Ali Bongo's statement was intended to defend his father's memory, as he believes that the former president cannot be judged or heard in the French judicial procedure.
Onanga Y'Obegue stressed that the PDG party does not intend to intervene in the judicial procedure, leaving it to the French justice system to investigate and make a judgment. He stated that the party's role is limited to defending Omar Bongo's memory and not to influence the judicial process. The PDG party's stance is to allow the justice system to work independently.
However, the PDG party has expressed criticism of the Gabonese government's position on the matter. Onanga Y'Obegue argued that the Gabonese state has a certain recognition to accord to a former head of state and should not support the accusations made by the French prosecutor at this stage of the procedure.
Onanga Y'Obegue also mentioned that if the French justice system establishes that certain assets were indeed acquired irregularly, the PDG party would support their restitution to the Gabonese state. This stance, according to him, does not contradict the party's commitment to letting the judicial process run its course.
Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was ousted in August 2023, has remained largely out of Gabon's political scene since then. Onanga Y'Obegue stated that Ali Bongo does not intend to seek any national mandate in the future but wishes to continue playing a political role through his party, the PDG.
The "malacquired assets" case has been ongoing for several years, with the French prosecutor's office recently requesting a trial for BNP Paribas and close associates of Omar Bongo. The case has sparked controversy and raised questions about the acquisition of assets by Gabonese leaders in France.
Key points
- The PDG party will not intervene in the French judicial procedure regarding the "malacquired assets" case.
- The party's primary concern is defending the memory of Omar Bongo Ondimba.
- The PDG party supports the restitution of assets acquired irregularly to the Gabonese state if established by the French justice system.
