Gabon coup: Who are Bongo’s allies arrested and what are they accused of?
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Transcript
00:00 "The following individuals have been arrested, particularly for high treason against the
00:08 state institutions.
00:11 They are Nourdine Bongo Valentin, Yann Gisleine N'Goulou, Jessy Ella Ekoga."
00:20 They are some within President Ali Bongo Odimba's inner circle facing serious accusations.
00:26 Among the charges, treason, embezzlement, forgery, drug trafficking and active corruption.
00:32 Firstly, Nourdine Bongo Valentin, the eldest son and so-called heir of the Bongo dynasty.
00:38 From 2019 to 2021, he worked as General Coordinator for Presidential Affairs before being dismissed
00:44 from the post in September 2021.
00:47 In March 2022, he was appointed Strategic Advisor to Ali Bongo within the Gabonese Democratic
00:52 Party, one year before the presidential elections.
00:56 At the time, the opposition denounced the planned dynastic succession at the top of
01:00 state.
01:01 Next, Yann Gisleine N'Goulou, considered to be Nourdine's right-hand man.
01:06 From 2019 to 2021, he worked in Presidential Affairs under Bongo Valentin.
01:12 Since then, he's been appointed as Ali Bongo's Chief of Staff.
01:16 And finally, Jessy Ella Ekoga is the son of former Army Chief of Staff Jean-Claude Ella
01:21 Ekoga and former Communications Director of Sylvia Bongo Odimba's foundation.
01:26 In November 2019, he was appointed Presidential Advisor and then Spokesman following the arrest
01:32 of his predecessor.
01:33 They were all arrested in the wake of the August 29th coup.
01:37 According to the Puchists, an investigation has been opened against them.