• Former first lady Sylvia Bongo and son Noureddin sentenced to 20 years in prison for corruption.
• Charges included embezzlement, money laundering, and extortion.
• Sentencing occurred in absentia following a two-day trial without their presence.
• Both were accused of exploiting Ali Bongo's health crisis for personal gain.
• The Bongo family ruled Gabon for over 55 years before being ousted in a coup.

A special criminal court in Gabon has sentenced former first lady Sylvia Bongo and her son Noureddin Bongo to 20 years in prison for various charges including embezzlement, corruption, and money laundering. This sentencing was carried out in their absence, following a two-day trial initiated without their presence. The court also imposed a fine of 100 million CFA francs (approximately €152,000) on each for their roles in manipulating state resources, particularly exploiting the health crisis of former President Ali Bongo, who suffered a stroke in 2018, according to BBC and Africanews.

In addition to embezzlement, Sylvia Bongo was convicted of money laundering and incitement to forgery, while her son faced multiple charges including extortion and aggravated money laundering. The public prosecutor described the operation as a systematic effort to capture public funds for their private benefit. Despite their absence from the courtroom, they claimed the trial was politically motivated, with Noureddin Bongo asserting his innocence on social media, according to Le Monde and Africanews.

The Bongo family has been a dominant political force in Gabon for over five decades, but their fall from power began with a military coup in August 2023. This coup ended the Bongo dynasty's rule, which started with Ali Bongo's father, Omar Bongo, who led for 42 years. Following the coup, Sylvia and Noureddin Bongo were detained for approximately 20 months before they were released and fled to London, as noted by BBC, Le Monde, and Africanews.