Ousted Gabon Leader Quits Politics

A little over a year ago, Gabon's ousted president, Ali Bongo, asked the world to 'make noise,' a plea that only memeified him instead (as seen in slide 3).

In a 19 September letter to the Gabonese people that his lawyer circulated to the media, the 65-year-old, whom the military ousted on 30 August 2023, said he would exit the political arena and renounce his ambition for office. 'I call on my country, its leaders, and my fellow citizens to renounce vengeance and to write its next history with harmony and humanity.'

Bongo might be referring to his family's allegations that they are being abused and tortured. While he and his two younger sons, Jalil and Bilal, are under house arrest, his French wife, Sylvia, and their eldest son, 32-year-old Noureddin, are imprisoned. Bongo and his two younger sons attempted a hunger strike in May to protest their alleged treatment, which the military has denied.

The ruling military has charged Bongo and his family with several counts of plundering the country's resources. The family, with ties to former coloniser France, ruled Gabon for 56 years.

Bongo was ousted in a military coup d’état led by his cousin Brice Oligui Nguema, so one can say the dynasty has continued, just with a different branch of the family tree.

What do you make of Bongo's latest statements? Let us know in the comments.