Gabon’s deposed President Ali Bongo goes on hunger strike over son’s ‘torture’

Gabon’s deposed President Ali Bongo and two of his sons have gone on hunger strike to protest against their alleged subjection to “acts of torture and barbarity”, the family’s lawyers say.

Mr Bongo was ousted in a military coup in August last year, shortly after he won a disputed presidential poll.

He was then confined to his house in the capital, Libreville, along with two of his sons, Jalil and Bilal.

The ruling junta also placed his wife Sylvia Bongo and eldest son Noureddin in prison, awaiting trial on corruption allegations.

In a statement on Tuesday, their lawyers alleged that Noureddin was “repeatedly tortured, beaten with a hammer and crowbar, strangled, whipped and electrocuted with a taser”.

They further allege that Sylvia was beaten, strangled and forced to watch Noureddin’s torture.

The family’s lawyers have also filed a complaint with the Paris judicial court, just a week before Gabon’s junta leader, Gen Brice Oligui Nguema, is scheduled to visit France.

Gabonese authorities are yet to comment on the allegations.

The ousted president, aged 64, had led the oil-rich country since 2009, succeeding his father, who had been in power for over 40 years.