Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Explained

Image Name:File:Ali Bongo Ondimba with Obamas 2014 (cropped).jpg
Office:First Lady of Gabon
Term Label:In role
Term Start:16 October 2009
Term End:30 August 2023
Predecessor:Edith Lucie Bongo
Successor:Zita Nyangue Oligui Nguema
President:Ali Bongo Ondimba
Birth Date:11 March 1963
Birth Place:Paris, France
Birthname:Sylvia Valentin
Nationality:Gabonese
Profession:President of the "Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation"
Father:Edouard-Pierre Valentin
Mother:Evelyne Valentin
Children:Malika
Noureddin
Jalil
Bilal
Caption:Bongo Ondimba in 2014

Sylvia Valentin Bongo Ondimba has been the wife of Ali Bongo Ondimba since 1989. She became the First Lady of Gabon following the inauguration of her husband as President of Gabon on 16 October 2009.[1] [2] She created the Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation, "For the family", in January 2011 "to improve the plight of vulnerable and disadvantaged people around the world".[3] On August 30, 2023, her husband, Ali Bongo, was deposed after 14 years of rule, ending her term as First Lady and subsequently leading to her arbitrary detention.

Family background

Born in Paris on 11 March 1963, Sylvia Valentin was barely two months old when her parents were transferred to Douala for work. She is the daughter of Edouard Valentin (died 28 January 2019), a French businessman who headed the group called Omnium Gabonais d'Assurances et de Réassurances (OGAR, Gabonese Insurance and Reinsurance).[4] Edouard Valentin's wife, Evelyne Valentin, then became President Bongo Ondimba's secretary.[5]

Sylvia spent most of her childhood in Cameroon along with her siblings, before the family took up residence in Tunisia.

In 1974, after a long stay by the Valentin family in Tunisia, Sylvia and her parents decided to move to Gabon, where she received an academic and Christian education at the Libreville Immaculate Conception Institution.

In 1988, Sylvia met Ali Bongo Ondimba. They married in 1989. They have three children: Noureddin Edouard, Jalil, and Bilal, adopted by the couple in 2002. Malika is the president's first daughter from a previous relationship.

On 16 October 2009, as Ali Bongo Ondimba was elected president, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba became Gabon's First Lady.

Her grand-children are Elizabeth, Deborah and Dyah Bongo.

Education

Sylvia Bongo Ondimba graduated with an advanced-level degree (DESS) in corporate management in France, and then decided to return to Gabon.

Career

Sylvia Bongo Ondimba was hired and promoted to the post of deputy managing director of the country's largest real estate firm, Gabon Immobilier, where she was named responsible for the company's marketing and economic development.

In 1990, she created her own wealth management firm, Alliance S.A., at the age of 25.

The Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation

Actions:

Accusations

On September 23, 2023, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba was charged with "money laundering" by public prosecutor.[12] On October 11, 2023, she was arbitrarily placed under arrest and incarcerated. As of today, no official charges or trial has been brought against her.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Sylvia Bongo Ondimba's biography, official website of president Ali Bongo Ondimba
  2. Georges Dougueli, "Sylvia, une femme au cœur des réseaux sociaux", Jeune Afrique, 21 October 2010 .
  3. http://www.globalpf.org/newsroom.html?file=tl_files/data/Press%20Release%20-%20First%20Lady%20of%20Gabon%2C%2013th%20of%20June%202011.pdf Press Release – First Lady of Gabon
  4. http://www.fondationsylviabongoondimba.org/fr/la-premiere-dame, Biographie officielle de Sylvia Bongo Ondimba
  5. http://archives-lepost.huffingtonpost.fr/article/2011/07/19/2552040_gabon-edouard-pierre-valentin-de-l-assurance-au-petrole.html "Gabon, Edouard-Pierre valentin, de l’Assurance au Pétrole !"
  6. Yorick Kombila, Caravane "Gabon profond", Gabonews, 18 July 2010
  7. Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, "The world must support its widows" (23 June 2011) Guardian
  8. Murielle Mendoua, "Sylvia Bongo Ondimba fait un don de plus de 18000 moustiquaires" (27 April 2011) Allafrica
  9. Yves Laurent Goma, "Sylvia Bongo fait un don de matériel roulant aux handicapés" (9 December 2010) Afriqueactu
  10. http://www.scwo.org.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=108%3Avisit-by-the-first-lady-of-gabon-mrs-sylvia-bongo-ondimba&catid=2%3Aevents&Itemid=82 "Visit by the First Lady of Gabon, Mrs Sylvia Bongo Ondimba"
  11. http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Empowering+the+African+woman+best+way+to+nurture+future+leaders+/-/440808/1187934/-/kxp6yuz/-/index.html "Empowering the African woman best way to nurture future leaders"
  12. Web site: 2023-09-29 . Wife of Gabon's ousted president Ali Bongo charged with 'money laundering' . 2023-09-29 . France 24 . en.
  13. Web site: 2023-09-29 . GABON Au Gabon, l’ex-première dame Sylvia Bongo incarcérée. 2023-10-12 . Le Monde . fr.