Ali Bongo, who was ousted as Gabon’s president last year is on hunger strike, according to a statement by his lawyer seen by APA on Wednesday.
The Bongo family alleges torture on its jailed members including ex first lady Sylvia Bongo by operatives of the military junta led by Gen Brice Oligui Nguema.
64-year-old Mr Bongo who suffered a stroke in 2019, has been under house arrest since his ouster last August hours after he was confirmed as the winner of a presidential election.
The movements of his two sons Bilal and Jalil are also being restricted inside the Bongo family compound in Libreville while the former first lady and eldest son Noureddin continue to languish in detention pending their prosecution over corruption.
The family lawyer’s statement claimed Noureddin had been routinely tortured, using a hammer.
It is also claimed that his alleged torturers had used a taser to electrocute him as Sylvia was forced to watch the torture sessions on him.
The statement said Sylvia was also beaten and further revealed that a case against the alleged vioations has been filed at a court in Paris, France.
The junta in Gabon has not reacted to the claims.
WN/as/APA