Gabon: Deposed Ali Bongo cleared to ‘free to move’ abroad

The transitional President of Gabon Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema has granted the deposed leader Ali Bongo the freedom to travel out of the country.

“Given his state of health, the former president of the Republic, Ali Bongo Ondimba, is free to move around,” Col. Ulrich Manfoumbi, a spokesman for the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), said on national television.

“He can travel abroad if he wishes to carry out his medical check-up,” he said, reading a statement by transitional President Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema.

Bongo had been in power for more than a decade before suffering a catastrophic stroke in October 2018 that left him physically disabled, with particular difficulties moving his right leg and arm.

His release was apparently facilitated by the Central African Republic’s President, Faustin-Archange Touadera, who met Nguema in the capital Libreville on Tuesday as an ambassador of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

According to reports, Bongo may travel to Morocco, Saudi Arabia, or the United Kingdom after his release was negotiated.

Recall that a group of senior Gabonese army officers declared on national television that they had seized power and placed Bongo under house arrest.

The move came shortly after the Gabonese Election Center announced that incumbent President Bongo had been elected for a third term with 64.27% of the vote.