The Latest Breaking News from Ali Bongo

Gabon is holding a constitutional referendum on Saturday that could reshape its political system – introducing a seven-year presidential term, renewable once, while abolishing the post of prime minister. It marks the first vote under the military-led transitional government since a coup ousted longtime leader Ali Bongo in August 2023.

Gabon's ex-president Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was overthrown in a coup last year, has said he is withdrawing from political life and asked for clemency for his imprisoned wife and son who he said face "violence" and "torture".

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.

The support for military takeovers is growing across Africa, and civilian governments are to blame, say analysts.

Gabon's military rulers have appointed Raymond Ndong Sima, a prominent opponent of ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba, as interim prime minister. He is the first civilian leader named by the junta, which overthrew Bongo in a coup at the end of August.

In Africa, traditional regimes are coming under increased pressure from within and a generation of risk-taking generals are making swift moves to grab power

The recent military intervention that put an end to the Bongo family’s 56-year hold on power in Gabon has been many years in the making.

General Brice Oligui Nguema, who ousted former President Ali Bongo in a coup last week, was sworn in as transitional president this morning in Libreville.

General Brice Oligui Nguema, who led a coup last week that toppled Gabon's 55-year-old ruling dynasty, took the oath of office as interim president on Monday, promising "free, transparent and credible elections" to restore civilian rule but without giving a timeframe.