Ali Bongo refutes Oligui Nguema's claims, asserts dispute and challenges post-stroke governance narrative
via Gabon Review3 min read
Former President Ali Bongo Ondimba has broken his silence, responding to statements made by President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema on France 24. Through his spokesperson Ali Akbar Onanga Y’Obègue, Ali Bongo strongly disputes Oligui Nguema's assertion that there is "no problem" between them and challenges the minimization of his role in governing Gabon after his 2018 stroke. While President Oligui Nguema stated that Ali Bongo is free to return to Gabon and was invited to an inauguration, Ali Bongo rejected this overture. He countered Oligui Nguema's claim of no dispute, stating, "That is false, and he knows it." Ali Bongo cited accusations of torture against his wife, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, and son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, following the August 30, 2023 coup d'état. He claims to have provided evidence to French authorities and United Nations bodies and demands an independent investigation. Ali Bongo also directly addressed Oligui Nguema's suggestion that he was not truly in charge during the last five years of his presidency, arguing that Oligui Nguema's own strategic position as head of the Republican Guard during that period contradicts the narrative of an absent leader. He questioned who appointed Oligui Nguema to that role, implying that the current president's responsibilities under his administration undermine the claim that Ali Bongo lacked authority. The former president finds it inconsistent to be portrayed as a leader without authority while simultaneously validating
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Gabon's President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema met with African banking sector officials and a Chinese construction company on June 2, 2026, to advance national development. The discussions focused on financing social housing, developing agricultural sectors, and revitalizing major road infrastructure projects. President Oligui Nguema received Idrissa Nassa, Chairman and CEO of Coris-Bank, along with a delegation of Burkinabe investors. They discussed the national housing construction program, a key commitment to improving living conditions for Gabonese citizens. The President emphasized cooperation between the state, financial institutions, and economic operators, and encouraged Coris-Bank to expand its network within the country to promote financial inclusion. The Burkinabe delegation, including Roland Sow, Saïdou Tiendrebeogo, and Achille Ouedraogo, expressed their commitment to investing in Gabon, with Coris-Bank announcing the upcoming construction of its headquarters in Libreville. President Oligui Nguema also met with Zhu Junbo, General Manager of China Overseas Engineering Group COVEC, to discuss the resumption of road construction in the Nyanga and Estuaire provinces, specifically on the Ndendé-Tchibanga, Tchibanga-Mayumba, and Sibang-Bambouchine routes. The Chinese official assured the President of the imminent resumption of these projects. These meetings underscore President Oligui Nguema's commitment to strengthening South-South partnerships and attracting investo
Must ReadGabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema revealed in an exclusive interview with France 24 that his country rejected a proposal from the Donald Trump administration to host migrants expelled from the United States. President Nguema stated that the US had approached Gabon with this request, but he declined, emphasizing that Gabon would not sign an agreement that was not beneficial to the country. He clarified that there are no American migrants in Gabon as a result of this refusal. This decision by Libreville contrasts with several other African nations, including Rwanda, Ghana, Eswatini, Uganda, and Equatorial Guinea, which have cooperated with Washington on similar agreements. These US policies, often termed "deportation to third countries," involve transferring migrants who cannot be directly repatriated to their home countries. Press investigations and US parliamentary reports suggest these agreements often include financial aid, diplomatic benefits, or relaxed US measures for the participating countries. President Nguema's stance highlights Gabon's commitment to maintaining its sovereignty regarding migration and avoiding mechanisms without direct national interest. Human rights organizations have criticized these US transfer agreements due to concerns about transparency and the risks faced by individuals relocated to countries with which they have no connection. Gabon's refusal aligns it with other African states that have opted not to participate in the US progra
Must ReadLawyers for Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, former Prime Minister of the Gabonese Republic and a political opponent, have issued a press release from Paris and Libreville on June 2, 2026, detailing alleged procedural violations in his detention. Bilie-By-Nze has been incarcerated at Libreville's central prison since April 15, 2026, placed under a committal order the following day for events dating back to 2008. His lawyers contend the accusations are baseless and that his detention is null due to a series of procedural breaches. The defense first requested an interrogation of Bilie-By-Nze from investigating judge Wilfried Adjondo on April 30, 2026. According to Article 96 of the Gabonese Code of Criminal Procedure, the judge had eight days to respond or issue a reasoned rejection. The judge reportedly failed to respond within this legal timeframe. On May 11, the defense appealed to the Indictment Chamber of the Libreville Court of Appeal, presided over by Mrs. Ovangue Iguendja and including Mrs. Danielle Antsouo Aboudou and Mrs. Elsa Biyeghe Bicke, to order the interrogation. The law stipulates an eight-day deadline for this chamber to rule, failing which the procedure becomes null. The chamber did not rule by May 19, 2026. On May 22, the defense reiterated its request to the Indictment Chamber, highlighting "twelve days of obstinate and complicit silence" and demanding the chamber acknowledge the nullity under Article 96 and order Bilie-By-Nze's immediate release. The public pros
Gabon's Minister of Housing, Urbanism, and Land Registry, Mays Mouissi, launched a national housing program on June 2 in Bikélé-Nzong, alongside President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema. This initiative aims to construct 3,100 housing units, addressing a long-standing housing crisis in the country and fulfilling the third pillar of the presidential social project focused on housing. The program includes 1,600 units on 80 hectares in Bikélé and 1,500 units on 100 hectares in Essassa. Minister Mouissi highlighted the severity of the housing crisis over several decades, characterized by a scarcity of programs and precarious living conditions for many households. The government's strategy involves land reform, development of reserves, and housing construction, with initial results showing 16,811 land transfer decisions issued in 100 days and nearly 10,970 plots developed in one year. The project emphasizes creating structured and sustainable urban complexes, not just isolated homes. It is financed by BGFI Bank 100 billion CFA francs and Coris Bank 28 billion CFA francs. The program features an innovative economic model where the housing allowance for civil servants, estimated at 10 billion CFA francs per month 120 billion annually, will be redirected to constitute real estate assets. No deductions will be made before key handover, after which the allowance converts into repayment, ensuring progressive property access without immediate financial pressure. Open to all Gabonese citize