Deposed Gabon President, Ali Bongo, Sons Go On Hunger Strike, Lawyers Say

Former Gabon President, Ali Bongo, alongside his two sons, Jalil and Bilal, has reportedly gone on a hunger strike to protest against the alleged “acts of torture and barbarity” they are facing at the hands of the Gabonese Government.

The family’s lawyers who made the  claim, stated that the situation is dire for the deposed leader and his sons.

Ali Bongo succeeded his father, Omar Bongo in 2009 and had been leading the country until he was deposed in a bloodless military coup led by his cousin, Brice Oligui Nguema, in August 2023. The coup followed a disputed election in which Mr. Bongo claimed victory.

READ ALSO: Coup In Gabon, Military Seizes Power, Ends Civilian Regime

Since his ousting, Ali Bongo has been placed under house arrest in Gabon’s capital, Libreville, alongside two of his sons. His wife, Sylvia, and eldest son, Noureddin, were taken to prison on corruption charges, and are currently awaiting trial.

According to a statement released by their lawyers on Tuesday, Noureddin was allegedly subjected to brutal torture, including being beaten with a hammer and crowbar, strangled, whipped, and electrocuted with a taser.

Sylvia, his wife, was reportedly beaten, strangled, and forced to witness Noureddin’s torture, the lawyers alleged.

Francois Zimeray, one of the family’s lawyers, stated in an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI) that they had filed complaints in a court in Paris a week before General Nguema’s visit to France. Zimeray emphasized the seriousness of the crimes and the need for justice, indicating that if the perpetrators do not appear, international arrest warrants would be issued.

“These are serious crimes, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. So there will be an investigation, there will be a summon, and if they do not appear, international arrest warrants would be issued,” lawyer Zimeray told RFI, claiming they “have the names of those who participated in or sponsored these acts of sequestration, torture, and barbarity.”

Despite the gravity of the allegations made by Ali Bongo‘s legal team, the government of Gabon is yet to respond.

John Adoyi

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