T he trial of the former ruling family members, Sylvia Bongo and her son Noureddin, resulted in a 20-year prison sentence and the confiscation of their assets. But beyond the sentence, the crucial question of the retrocession and transparency in the use of the seized assets arises — whether they are bank sums, bundles of cash found at their homes, or vehicles. The Gabonese State will not only have to demonstrate how it will utilize these assets but also provide public accountability over time.

Since the conviction of Sylvia Bongo Valentin and her son Noureddin, who were tried in absentia for corruption, embezzlement of public funds, money laundering, and criminal association, the debate is not limited to the 20-year sentence handed down by the Specialized Criminal Court of Libreville. The decision provides for the confiscation of their assets and a reimbursement of several billion CFA francs to the Gabonese State. The scale of the assets concerned — which include properties, vehicles, bank accounts, and even liquid cash — now raises an essential question: what will the State do with this seized treasure?

The retrocession of the convicted assets for the benefit of the State appears as a first symbolic and material step toward reparation. The Transition Government, as early as 2023, had already redistributed a portion of the seized assets: a cheque for 7.2 billion FCFA and 344 vehicles were handed over to Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima, as part of "Operation Dignity." According to the transition authorities, these assets originated from the searches conducted at the homes of the Bongo former regime’s associates.

But the mere restitution of these assets is not enough: the State must be able to put them to good use for the public good. This can involve the sale of real estate assets — under transparent conditions —, the use of vehicles for the administration, or the reservation of the seized sums to finance priority projects, such as infrastructure or social services. The stated goal of the transition — to restore sober and responsible governance to Gabon — will only be credible if the use of these resources is clearly defined, and not diluted in obscure expenditures.

This is why transparency is crucial. Gabonese citizens are entitled to demand that every seized centime is subject to public monitoring: regular audits, accessible financial reports, and even a citizen dashboard on the source of the funds and their destination. This demand is even stronger since very substantial sums were found in cash at residences. Without an accountability mechanism, the risks of corruption or mismanagement will not disappear with the conviction of the Bongo Valentin family: they could simply take another form.

Finally, the conviction of the Bongo Valentin family must not be an end point, but a first act of institutional reconstruction. The transfer of seized assets toward uses of public interest is an opportunity for Gabon to turn the page on decades of financial scandals. But for this new era to be credible, guarantees are needed: the establishment of an independent body to manage seized assets, periodic audits, and the participation of civil society. Without these safeguards, the promises of transparency and good governance of the Fifth Republic could fall back into the same pitfalls as the previous regime.