Libreville – A Gabonese special criminal court wrapped up a two‑day trial on Tuesday night with a dramatic verdict: former First Lady Sylvia Bongo and her son Noureddin Bongo were each sentenced to 20 years in prison for embezzlement, money‑laundering and related corruption charges. The judgment was delivered in absentia, as the pair have been living in London since their release from detention earlier this year ¹ ².
The court also ordered Sylvia Bongo to pay 100 million CFA francs (about $177,000) and Noureddin to pay the same amount plus an additional 1.2 trillion CFA francs (roughly $2.1 billion) in damages to the Gabonese state ². Prosecutor Eddy Minang told the court that evidence, including photos of private jets and overseas properties, showed a “systematic diversion of public funds for private gain”.
Defense lawyers called the proceedings a “legal farce” and argued the trial was politically motivated, a claim echoed by the Bongos, who hold French citizenship and have filed complaints in Paris alleging torture during their 20‑month detention. The sentencing comes after the 2023 coup that ousted President Ali Bongo, ending the Bongo family’s 56‑year rule over the oil‑rich nation.
The verdict has sparked a fresh wave of debate in Gabon, with the new administration under President Brice Oligui Nguema promising to restore order while opponents warn of a “show trial.” Ten other former allies of the Bongo family remain on trial in Libreville, and the legal saga looks set to continue.