The former Gabon president, Ali Bongo, who was deposed in a coup, is now free to leave his home country and travel abroad, according to the announcement by the leader of the coup that toppled him, late Wednesday night.
General Brice Oligui Nguema had remarked on state television:
“He [Bongo] has been granted freedom of movement. He can now travel abroad if so he wishes.”
Recall that Ali Bongo had been in power for 14 years, and had been under house arrest since the military coup was carried out in August 30.
Remarkably, it was carried out without carnage less than an hour after Ali’s party announced his successful re-election in a vote the military junta has described as fraudulent.
Bongo had previously suffered a severe stroke in October 2018 which left him physically impaired. He had had serious difficulty moving his right leg and arm.
However, It is yet unclear how the detention by the military has affected his health.
