Gabon coupists arrest President’s son ‘for treason’

Noureddin Bongo Valentin, one of the sons of Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba, has been arrested for “treason”. The ousted president has also been placed under house arrest alongside some of his family members. “President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors,” they said in a statement read out on […]

Noureddin Bongo Valentin, one of the sons of Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba, has been arrested for “treason”.

The ousted president has also been placed under house arrest alongside some of his family members.

“President Ali Bongo is under house arrest, surrounded by his family and doctors,” they said in a statement read out on state TV.

The coupists struck in the early hours of Wednesday, annulling Saturday’s election, which Bongo was declared to have won.

The soldiers announced the dissolution of all the institutions of the republic, the parliament, and shut down Gabon’s borders, saying their actions were on behalf of the central African nation’s security and defence forces.

Bongo’s son and close adviser, his chief of staff, Ian Ghislain Ngoulou, as well as his deputy, two other presidential advisers and the two top officials in the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)  were arrested.

A military leader said they were accused of treason, embezzlement, corruption and falsifying the president’s signature, among other allegations.