FRANCEVILLE, Gabon (6 April 2026) – In a rare judicial proceeding, an exhumation took place in the 1st arrondissement of Franceville, Haut-Ogooué, southeastern Gabon, following a request from Public Prosecutor Bénile Ongouori Lekogo. The procedure, which involved the exhumation of a body from the La Corniche 2 neighborhood, was a response to a controversial burial of a woman in her partner’s residence following her death in Bongoville.
The tragic incident in Bongoville, where Simplice Ngounga reportedly shot and killed his partner Laïcka Ontolokali during a domestic dispute before taking his own life, led to her burial inside the home of her partner, a decision made by her family. This prompted the Public Prosecutor to request the exhumation, considering the burial an unusual and irregular situation.
The exhumation process was carried out under strict judicial and traditional customs, with the participation of Jean — Claude Mangayi, clerk to notary Ontsaga Henri, and representatives from funeral home Alto Sep. The deceased’s family, however, did not attend the event. The exhumation aimed to allow for the woman’s reburial at the municipal cemetery in Ongali, within the 2nd arrondissement of Franceville, to ensure her peace. Paragraph: The event in Franceville has highlighted the complexities surrounding burials and judicial processes in Gabon, reflecting the ongoing debate on legal and family rights in such tragic circumstances.
Source: Agpgabon
