A video recorded at an undisclosed location and acquired by AFPTV on August 30, 2023, reveals Gabon's ousted president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, appealing to "his friends worldwide to raise their voices" while he remains under house arrest.
It's worth noting that a group of rebel officers in the resource-rich Central African nation of Gabon declared on August 30, 2023, that they had taken control after contentious elections, in which President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who had been in power since 2009, was proclaimed the winner.
Ali Bongo, aged 64, hailing from a family with over 55 years of rule over Gabon, found himself placed under house arrest, with one of his sons arrested on charges of treason, according to the coup leaders' statement.
Speaking from an undisclosed location, Ali Bongo stated, "I’m sending a message to all friends that we have all over the world to tell them to make noise for… the people here who arrested me and my family.”
Ali Bongo, aged 64, hailing from a family with over 55 years of rule over Gabon, found himself placed under house arrest, with one of his sons arrested on charges of treason, according to the coup leaders' statement.
In the video, Ali Bongo, visibly concerned, addressed his son's whereabouts, noting that his son was in one location while his wife was in another place.
“I’m at the residence and nothing is happening, I don’t know what’s going on, I’m calling (on) you to make noise,” he said.
AFP was unable to confirm the location and time when the video was recorded.
Earlier, a military leader revealed that Ali Bongo's son and close adviser, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, along with 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) had been apprehended.
These individuals face allegations including treason, embezzlement, corruption, and falsifying the president's signature, among other charges, as stated by the military leader.
China has called for Ali Bongo's safety to be ensured, while former colonial power France has stated its keen observation of the events in Gabon.
Watch video below: