The former President of Gabon, Ali Bongo, ousted in August by a military junta, announced his "definitive resignation" from politics and, in an appeal sent to the press, asked for clemency for his family, who he says were victims of "violence" and "torture".

"I want to reaffirm my withdrawal from political life and my definitive renunciation of any national ambition (....). I would never wish to pose a risk of threat, disorder or destabilization to Gabon," he said in a text sent to the media on Wednesday night by his Gabonese lawyer Gisèle Eyue Bekale.

"I call for appeasement, for an end to the violence and torture inflicted on my family, in particular my wife Sylvia and my son Noureddin, and for their release, as they have been imprisoned for too long for facts of which they have not been found guilty," he added in a post on the AFP.

After months of silence, the 65-year-old former head of state acknowledged the "shortcomings" of his political administration, "taking sole responsibility both socially and for the functioning of our institutions", and called on his country to "renounce revenge".

"I myself have no freedom of movement and am subject to daily surveillance. My visits depend on authorization from the military. Isolated from the outside world, no communications and no news of my family," says the text, written in French.

Since the coup d'état of August 30, 2023, which put an end to 55 years of family dynasty, the former president has been living in his private residence in Libreville, "free to leave the country", according to the government.

The 61-year-old former first lady and her 32-year-old son are being held in Libreville's central prison. Noureddin Bongo, in particular, for "corruption" and "embezzlement of public funds", and Sylvia Bongo for "money laundering, handling stolen goods, forgery and the use of forgeries".

The new government, led by General Brice Oligui Nguema, accuses them of having seized power and massively embezzled public funds, manipulating the head of state, weakened since 2018 by a serious stroke. Since his arrest, General Oligui's transitional government has shared little information about his condition or the progress of the investigation.

In May, the Bongos' French lawyers filed a civil suit in Paris for "illegal detention" and "kidnapping aggravated by acts of torture and barbarism". A first complaint filed in France was dismissed in October 2023. According to the government, these were "slanderous and false accusations".

(Photo DR)