Former Gabon First Lady and Son Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Corruption

A Gabonese court has sentenced Sylvia Bongo, the former first lady of Gabon, and her son Noureddin Bongo Valentin, to 20 years in prison after finding them guilty of embezzlement and corruption.

The verdict came late Tuesday night following a two-day trial held in their absence. Both were ordered to pay fines of 100 million CFA francs (approximately $177,000 / £135,000), while Noureddin Bongo was further instructed to pay 1.2 trillion CFA francs (around $2.1 billion / £1.6 billion) in damages to the state.

Accusations and Background

Prosecutors alleged that Sylvia and Noureddin Bongo took advantage of former President Ali Bongo’s ill health after he suffered a stroke in 2018, using his weakened condition to consolidate control and divert state funds for personal gain.

Both denied the allegations prior to the trial, describing the proceedings as “a legal farce.”

Ali Bongo, who ruled Gabon from 2009 until his ouster in an August 2023 military coup, has not been charged in the case. The coup was led by Brice Oligui Nguema, who has since transitioned from military leadership to become Gabon’s civilian president following elections earlier this year.

Absence from Court and Ongoing Proceedings

State prosecutor Eddy Minang expressed surprise that the former first lady and her son were not present when the trial began on Monday. Both had been detained for 20 months after the coup before being released in May and permitted to travel to London for medical treatment.

While the Bongos have now been sentenced, the trial of nine other co-defendants — reportedly former allies and government officials — will continue until Friday, according to local journalists.

A Dynasty’s Fall

The sentencing marks a dramatic turning point for a family that ruled Gabon for over five decades. Ali Bongo succeeded his father, Omar Bongo, who governed the oil-rich Central African nation for 42 years.

The family’s long tenure in power has faced widespread criticism over the years. While Gabon remains one of Africa’s top oil producers, around one-third of its population still lives below the poverty line, according to United Nations data.

The new administration has pledged to fight corruption and promote accountability as part of its national reform agenda.