By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The deposed President of Gabon, Ali Bongo has embarked on hunger strike over what his lawyers described as subjection to “acts of torture and barbarity” of his wife, Sylvia and sons.
Also joining the hunger strike are his two of his sons.
While the former President was confined to his house in the capital, Libreville, along with two of his sons, Jalil and Bilal, the ruling junta placed his wife Sylvia and eldest son Noureddin in a prison, awaiting trial on corruption allegations.
In a statement, the Bongos lawyer alleged that Noureddin and Sylvia were beaten and strangled while in detention.
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Bongo was overthrown in a military coup in August last year, shortly after he won a controversial presidential poll which opposition said lacked transparency.
Their lawyers have alleged that Noureddin was tortured, whipped and “even electrocuted with a taser”.
Heritage Times HT reports that ousted president, aged 64, had led the oil-rich country since 2009 when he succeeded his father who had been in power for more than 40 years.
The family lawyers say they have also filed a complaint with the Paris judicial court, a week before Gabon’s junta leader Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema is due to visit France.
