Gabon’s Ali Bongo makes first live public appearance after stroke

Gabonese President Ali Bongo has appeared live in public for the
first time almost 10 months after suffering a stroke, walking with
a stick as he attended ceremonies in the capital, Libreville.

The 60-year-old, whose every move has been scrutinised for signs
of ill health, attended commemorations on the eve of Gabon’s
anniversary of independence from France in 1960, the AFP news
agency reported on Friday.

The appearance marked the first time Bongo had been seen in
public outside the presidential palace since his illness in October
last year, except for occasions that were filmed and edited by
government or state media.

A smiling Bongo spoke with security officers before laying a
wreath at the tomb of Leon Mba, the first president of the small
oil-rich country.

Bongo walked with a stick and an aide helped him to climb
several steps. The ceremony lasted half an hour, which was shorter
than in previous years.

Long absence
Speculation about Bongo’s ability to rule Gabon mounted after he
suffered a stroke on October 24 while in Saudi Arabia. He was in
the kingdom to attend an investment summit and speak alongside
other leaders but was not seen during the discussion.

After receiving initial treatment in Riyadh, he was flown to
Morocco for treatment where he stayed for several months. During
his extended absence, the army quashed an apparent attempted coup
by a small group of renegade soldiers.

In May, he sacked his vice president and minister of forests
after a scandal erupted over the smuggling of precious timber in
the country, three-quarters of which is forested.

Ten members of Gabon’s political opposition, civil society and
trade union movement have filed a suit requesting Bongo be assessed
to see whether he is medically fit to continue in office.

A lower court dismissed the case in May, saying that only the
two houses of parliament, or the Constitutional Court acting at the
behest of the government, were empowered to determine whether the
president was unfit.

But the Court of Appeal on Monday said it would hear an appeal
by the plaintiffs and set a date for it -August 26.

Bongo is scheduled to make a televised speech on Friday evening
and then attend on Saturday an annual military parade to mark the
country’s independence.

Opposition figures have urged the public to turn out in large
numbers on Saturday to gain a closer look at his health.

Bongo took office after an election in 2009 that followed the
death of his father, former president Omar Bongo, who became head
of state in 1967

In 2016, he was narrowly re-elected for a second term by a few
thousand votes, defeating opposition challenger Jean Ping after a
campaign marred by bloody clashes and allegations of voter
fraud.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

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