In a striking open letter, former Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba announced his decision to permanently retire from politics and called for the immediate release of his wife and son, Sylvia and Nourredin Bongo. Both have been detained since the fall of the Bongo dynasty and face charges, though Bongo claims their guilt has yet to be proven.
Ali Bongo argues that his family members are being unfairly treated, becoming “scapegoats of a situation that goes beyond their individual being.” He condemned their imprisonment, which he believes is a form of “torture.”
The letter, circulated on Wednesday, September 18, marked a moment of reflection for the former leader. Bongo acknowledged the shortcomings during his presidency, admitting to "inadequacies on the social and institutional level" and shouldering full responsibility for these failures.
In closing, Bongo expressed a hope for “national reconciliation,” suggesting that the nation should come together to move past the upheavals that have defined its recent history. His statement seems to signal a new chapter for Gabon, following the end of his family’s long-held political influence.
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