Ali Bongo Ondimba, the ex-leader of Gabon, has rejected all plans forcing him into exile without his family as his wife and eldest son are in prison over multiple charges, reports citing one family member.
A junta led by current transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema removed Bongo on August 30, putting therefore an end to his 14-year power control.
The junta accused him of bad management. It has since then held him under house arrest and cut off all outside contacts for him. The new authorities also froze all his accounts.
A family member who did not want to be named told Paris-based RFI that the junta a month ago made available a jet so that the former leader goes into exile to his country of choice but he rubbished the offer that came without his family members. Namely his wife Sylvia Bongo Ondimba and eldest son Noureddin Bongo Valentin, both currently in prison and waiting for their trial for crime, including corruption, embezzling public funds and money laundering.
Ali Bongo, according to the family source, believes the former First Lady and Noureddin have nothing to do with the charges leveled at them. Ali Bongo, the source added, is taking full responsibility for charges.
No legal action has been taken against Ali Bongo himself yet. Nguema, who was Ali’s presidential guard’s Chief at the time of the coup, had indicated that the former President will not be sued following his removal.