Detained ex-Gabon President Ali Bongo released for overseas medical treatment

Detained ex-Gabon President Ali Bongo released for overseas medical attention

Deposed President of Gabon Ali Bongo has been released from house arrest.
The military junta in Gabon said Ali Bongo was free to travel abroad for medical attention.
This is coming eight days after his regime was toppled by the military.
The new military leaders in the Central African nation announced this Wednesday.

On Monday, Brice Nguema, an army general who led the coup, was sworn in as interim president.

The statement announcing Bongo’s release from house arrest was signed by Nguema.

“Given his state of health, the former President of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is free to move about,” Ulrich Manfoumbi, the military spokesperson said in the statement read on national television on Wednesday evening.

“He may, if he wishes, travel abroad for medical checkups.”
Bongo was toppled on the morning the electoral umpire announced that he had been re-elected for a third term in office.
Nguema who is Bongo’s cousin, served as a bodyguard to Bongo’s late father and headed the country’s republican guard, an elite military unit.
Bongo became president when Omar, his father, died after ruling from 1967 to 2009.