20-Year Jail Term for Sylvia and Noureddin Bongo
A court in Gabon has sentenced former First Lady Sylvia Bongo and her son Noureddin Bongo Valentin to 20 years in prison after finding them guilty of embezzlement and corruption.
The verdict came late Tuesday night following a swift, two-day trial held in their absence.
The pair were accused of abusing the powers of former President Ali Bongo—Sylvia’s husband and Noureddin’s father—after he suffered a stroke in 2018, allegedly exploiting his condition to seize control of state affairs and enrich themselves.
Massive Fines and Financial Penalties
In addition to their prison terms, the court imposed a fine of 100 million CFA francs (about $177,000) on both Sylvia and Noureddin.
Noureddin was also ordered to pay a staggering 1.2 trillion CFA francs (approximately $2.1 billion) in damages to the Gabonese state.
Both had denied the charges prior to the trial, calling the proceedings a “legal farce.”
The Fall of the Bongo Dynasty
The case marks another major chapter in the fall of the powerful Bongo family, which ruled Gabon for over five decades.
Ali Bongo, who became president in 2009 after succeeding his father Omar Bongo—who had ruled for 42 years—was ousted in a military coup in August 2023 led by Brice Oligui Nguema.
Nguema has since transitioned from military leader to civilian president after winning elections earlier this year.
Following the coup, Sylvia and Noureddin were detained for 20 months before being released in May and permitted to travel to London for medical treatment.
Trial in Their Absence
Despite their release, the two did not appear in court when the trial began on Monday.
State prosecutor Eddy Minang told the court that authorities were “surprised” by their absence as proceedings opened.
Nine other individuals, including former close allies of the Bongos, are also facing trial. Their cases will continue until Friday, according to local reports.
Lingering Inequality in an Oil-Rich Nation
The trial comes amid growing anger over decades of alleged corruption linked to the Bongo family.
Despite Gabon’s vast oil wealth, about one-third of its population still lives below the poverty line, according to UN data.
While former President Ali Bongo is not facing prosecution, his political dynasty — once seen as unshakable — continues to crumble under the weight of corruption allegations and public resentment.
