Ali Bongo Ondimba, the former president of Gabon, along with his family, has been officially released from custody and has now arrived in Luanda, the capital city of Angola.
This development comes after a series of diplomatic engagements led by Angolan President João Lourenço, who currently serves as the President-in-Office of the African Union (AU).
In a statement shared via its official social media channels, the Angolan presidency confirmed the release and arrival, saying, “Following the initiatives made by the President of the Republic of Angola and President-in-Office of the African Union, João Lourenço, with President Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon, the Bongo family has been released and has just arrived in Luanda.”
AFRIPOST reports that Ali Bongo had been under house arrest since August 2023, after a military coup ousted him from power.
His release is being viewed as a major diplomatic breakthrough, attributed to high-level African intervention.
The involvement of President Lourenço is seen as a step towards fostering peace and stability in Gabon following the political upheaval.
The Bongo family’s presence in Angola marks a significant moment in Gabon’s post-coup transition, signalling possible reconciliatory moves behind the scenes.