A special criminal court in Gabon has delivered a landmark verdict, sentencing the nation's former first lady and her son to 20 years in prison after a high-profile trial conducted in their absence.
The Verdict and Charges
Sylvia Bongo and Noureddin Bongo Valentin were convicted on multiple serious charges, including concealment and embezzlement of public funds, money laundering, criminal association, and forgery. The court in Libreville issued the sentence late on Tuesday, 12th November 2025, following a swift two-day trial.
In addition to the lengthy prison terms, the court issued an arrest warrant for the duo and ordered them to pay millions of dollars in damages for what was described as "crimes against the Gabonese state." The prosecution presented a case alleging they manipulated the former president's health to control state finances.
A Dynasty's Fall from Power
The convictions mark a dramatic fall for figures who were once at the heart of power in the central African nation. Sylvia Bongo and her son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, were highly influential during former president Ali Bongo's 14-year rule.
The Bongo family's 56-year political dynasty ended abruptly in 2023 when Ali Bongo was ousted in a military coup. This occurred shortly after he won a disputed election that the military and opposition claimed was fraudulent. The family's grip on power began with Ali Bongo's father, Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for 42 years.
Allegations of Unchallenged Rule
During the trial, witnesses testified that Valentin, who held the powerful position of coordinator of presidential affairs, became the main figure issuing orders from the presidential palace. This followed his father's serious stroke in October 2018.
Prosecutors released compelling evidence, including images of two private jets allegedly bought with laundered money. They also listed extensive land holdings, such as a mansion in London and property in Morocco.
Following the 2023 coup, both Valentin and his mother were detained for 20 months before being permitted to leave the country. The Bongos, who now live in London and hold French citizenship, refused to participate in the trial. Valentin dismissed the proceedings, calling the verdict "predetermined" and the trial a "simple formality" under the current administration of President Oligui Nguema.
Summing up the case, Eddy Minang, the prosecutor general at the Libreville Court of Appeal, stated, "They reigned unchallenged, and tried to pass themselves off as victims of the system they shaped."
