Gabon: Oligui Nguema government and Bongo family in a battle over billions and properties
Three years after August 30, 2023, the conflict between Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's government and the Bongo family has escalated beyond politics into a patrimonial dispute. A 'Jeune Afrique' investigation published on August 28 details seizures, accusations of spoliation, international judicial cooperation, and alleged billions. Properties in Libreville symbolize the former regime's fall, such as the Oyo estate, built by Omar Bongo Ondimba, whose animal park is now open to the public. Several seized properties have seen different fates; the Oyo palace, Franceville residence, and Moroccan House of Sabli猫re were entrusted to Omar Denis Junior and Yacine Queenie Bongo Ondimba. The villa Nam, Ali Bongo and Sylvia's last residence in Libreville, remains unoccupied. Prosecutor Eddy Minang estimated its cost at 80 billion CFA francs during Sylvia and Noureddin Bongo-Valentin's trial, a figure disputed by the former presidential family. Sylvia and Noureddin, condemned in absentia, had assets from 22 real estate companies, stakes in other structures, planes, hotels, oil permits, and land titles seized. A confidential Anif report, seen by Jeune Afrique, estimates the alleged empire's cumulative debits at 2,902 billion CFA francs and identified assets at over 1,500 billion CFA francs, including hotels, planes, residences, bank holdings, mines, shell companies, and offshore accounts. Anif reportedly identified about thirty companies, 22 registered abroad, used in financial movements.
