Gabon: speculation surrounds possible release of former Prime Minister Bilie-By-Nze
Gabonese monthly publication L'Information du Mois has raised the question of whether former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, detained for over four months in Libreville's central prison, could be released on August 30, Gabon's Liberation Day. While the President cannot legally order such a release, the publication explores the political implications and the legal arguments for his provisional release. Bilie-By-Nze was placed under a committal order on April 16 on suspicion of fraud and breach of trust related to a 2008 case. His lawyers have consistently requested his provisional release, citing his known address in Libreville, his deep roots in the country, his political responsibilities, and the unlikelihood of him evading justice. These requests were rejected by the Indictment Chamber on May 15. The defense has also challenged the procedural basis of his detention, requesting his in-depth interrogation and the annulment of the proceedings due to alleged irregularities. L'Information du Mois suggests that a provisional release would not halt the investigation or imply innocence, but would allow the instruction to continue while Bilie-By-Nze remains available to the justice system. The article questions whether his continued detention is still necessary for the investigation, especially given the guarantees of representation his lawyers have provided. In July, his lawyers alleged to Reuters that his incarceration was politically motivated, an accusation that remain
