Gabon charges ousted president's wife with 'money laundering'

Gabon's ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba, who ruled the oil-rich country for 14 years, and his wife Sylvia Bongo at a parade to mark independence day in 2019. © Steeve Jordan / AFP/File

Libreville (AFP) – The wife of Gabon's ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba has been charged with "money laundering" and other offences, the public prosecutor said Friday, a month after her husband was toppled in a coup.

Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, who is Franco-Gabonese, and one of the couple's sons have been accused by the coup leader of having pulled the strings in the oil-rich country.