Ali Bongo: Gabon's ousted ex-president and family arrive in Angola

Sylvia Bongo and her son was freed from prison last week despite facing charges of embezzling public funds.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveGabon's ousted president and family freed after two years and fly to Angola22 hours agoShareSavePaul NjieBBC NewsShareSaveGetty ImagesSylvia Bongo has been married to Ali Bongo since 1989 and have four children together Gabon's former President, Ali Bongo, who was deposed in a 2023 coup, has left the country and is now in Angola, the authorities there have announced.

The Angolan presidency added in a statement posted on social media that Bongo's family had been released from detention and were with him in Luanda.

The Bongo family lawyer, François Zimeray, welcomed the release of his clients and denounced their "arbitrary and cruel imprisonment".

Bongo's wife and son, Sylvia and Noureddin, face corruption charges and had been detained since 2023.

They have not yet publicly commented on the charges, however Mr Zimeray described his clients as being "subjected to torture" while being held in what was described as underground cells.