This pressure may be shaping how the country’s transitional authorities are dealing with high-profile detainees.

The pair had been held in custody for over a year and a half following the August 2023 military coup that ousted long-time President Ali Bongo Ondimba. They face charges of embezzlement and money laundering and were reportedly found in possession of large amounts of foreign currency in Europe at the time of their arrest.

“For more than 18 months, the former First Lady and her son, Nuruddin Ali Bongo, were imprisoned, while former President Bongo himself was placed under house arrest. He had long been calling for the same conditions to be extended to them,” Dr Mutizwa-Mangiza noted.

Their transfer comes amid growing pressure from the African Union (AU), which has raised concerns about due process and human rights in the wake of the coup. While no trial date has been announced, the move has been viewed as a concession to diplomatic efforts to ensure fair treatment for detainees under Gabon’s transitional regime.

Analysts say the development could mark a shift in the government’s strategy as it seeks to balance domestic control with international legitimacy.

--ChannelAfrica--