Gabon’s military coup leaders have announced the release of deposed President Ali Bongo, allowing him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The junta’s spokesperson, Col. Ulrich Manfoumbi, conveyed this development via state television on Wednesday, as reported by CNN.
Since the coup in late August that ousted him, Ali Bongo had reportedly been held under house arrest.
“Given his state of health, the former President of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is free to move about. He may, if he wishes, travel abroad to receive medical check-ups,” stated junta spokesperson Col. Ulrich Manfoumbi, reading a statement from transitional leader Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema.
Images released by the Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema-led junta showed Bongo greeting Abdou Abarry, the head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, at Bongo’s residence in the capital city of Libreville.
Since the coup, Ali Bongo had been rarely seen. Shortly after his ousting, a video emerged in which he appealed to supporters to “make noise” after military officers placed him under house arrest. He said, “The people here have arrested me… I’m in the residence… I don’t know what is going on.”
Ali Bongo, aged 64, suffered a stroke in 2018 and had spent months outside Gabon, receiving treatment in Morocco, which had raised questions about his fitness to continue as president and led to an unsuccessful coup attempt in 2019.
He had been in power for 14 years since succeeding his father, Omar Bongo, in 2009 and had sought another term in last month’s disputed elections.