Libreville, Gabon: Gabonese lawmaker Augustin Lobelle Yembi is facing judicial proceedings in Gabon after being handed over by Rwandan authorities following his arrest over an alleged assault on an employee at Kigali International Airport.
Yembi was arrested at the Rwandan airport on September 3 after an altercation with an airport employee. He was subsequently detained in Rwanda while authorities dealt with the case.
Gabonese officials said the lawmaker was later transferred to Gabon following diplomatic intervention between Kigali and Libreville.
Michel Régis Onanga Ndiaye, Speaker of Gabon’s National Assembly, said on Monday that Yembi had been “removed from the Rwandan justice system” and transferred to Gabonese authorities, according to APAnews.
The Gabonese National Assembly said Yembi was placed in the hands of Gabonese judicial authorities after arriving in Libreville.
Gabon’s Foreign Minister Marie Édith Tassyla Ye Doumbeneny also confirmed the transfer during a television interview. She attributed the development to the “fraternal relations” between the presidents of Gabon and Rwanda.
According to Gabonese authorities, Yembi was travelling through Kigali in transit to another country when the incident took place.
The case attracted public attention after a video circulated online appearing to show Yembi assaulting an airport employee. The circumstances that led to the altercation have not been established publicly.
The New Times contacted RwandAir for comment on the incident, but the airline had not responded to questions by press time.
Who is Yembi?
Yembi is an independent member of Gabon’s National Assembly and represents the Lolo Bouenguidi constituency in Ogooué Lolo province.
His parliamentary profile states that he was born on January 1, 1980, in Koulamoutou and holds a degree in legal sciences.
He has been active in Gabonese politics for several years.
Gabon Media Time reported that Yembi joined the Gabonese Democratic Party, known as the PDG, in 2011. The party was Gabon’s former ruling party. Yembi later announced his departure from the organisation.
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