Former First Lady of Gabon Imprisoned

 Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, wife of  Ali Bongo Ondimba, Gabon's deposed president, has been sent to prison. She was imprisoned on Wednesday 11th October, on charges of embezzlement, money laundering and forgery. Her eldest son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, has also been charged on allegations of corruption. Mrs Ondimba Valentin's lawyer, Francois Zimeray made the news public, condemning the "arbitrary... illegal procedure". 

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Sylvia Bongo has been under house arrest in the capital, Libreville, since the August 30 coup brought the curtain down on 55 years of Bongo dynasty rule.  Her husband, Ali Bongo who had ruled the central African country since 2009, was overthrown by military leaders moments after being proclaimed winner in a presidential election. Many saw it as an act of liberation rather than a military coup. Ali Bongo was elected after his father Omar died in 2009 after nearly 42 years in power. Gabon is Africa's third-richest nation in terms of per-capita GDP but one in three people lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.