ONE YEAR SINCE ALI ‘MAKE SOME NOISE’ BONGO DEPOSED

It’s been a year since Gabon’s former President, Ali Bongo, was deposed in a popular coup. On 30th August, 2023, he was overthrown after a group of Gabonese soldiers staged a coup and annulled the results of the country’s disputed presidential election, in which he’d been declared the winner - with 64.27% of the vote.

Ali Bongo was set to govern the Central African nation for a third term before the coup, which ended a 55-year-long family rule, having succeeded his father, Omar Bongo, who had been in power from 1967 to 2009 (when he died).

During his house arrest in the capital, Libreville, Ali Bongo pleaded with friends around the world to “make some noise” in protest over his removal. But the video plea backfired - becoming instead this clip here: a mocking Internet meme that went viral across Africa and the world.

In October 2023, Gabon’s new leadership also imprisoned the deposed First Lady, Sylvia Bongo, and her eldest son, Noureddin Bongo, on corruption and embezzlement charges. On 14th May 2024, the family’s lawyer claimed in a statement cited by AFP that both had been subjected to physical assault while in custody.

Not long after, Ali Bongo reportedly went on a hunger strike, in protest over his and his family’s alleged torture. According to the family’s lawyer, two of his youngest sons, Jalil and Bilal, decided to join him on the hunger strike. According to the family lawyer, the Bongo family are still under house arrest with no contact allowed with the outside world. The government dismisses these claims.

The oil-rich Central African nation is part of OPEC and was colonised by France until 1960, when it became independent. It is currently under the leadership of Brice Oligui Nguema, a military officer who is serving as interim-president.

Video credit: Mr Ndze @reflexsoundz