The United Nations has condemned the continued detention of Niger’s deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, and his wife, Hadiza Bazoum, describing their confinement as “arbitrary.”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Bazoum, who was elected in 2021, was overthrown on July 26, 2023, by General Abdourahamane Tiani over allegations of failing to curb jihadist attacks. Since then, he and his wife have been held in strict detention at the presidential palace in Niamey without trial.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, in a report seen by AFP on Monday, stated that Bazoum’s prolonged detention lacked legal justification and called for his immediate release and compensation.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Bazoum’s lawyers have also raised concerns about his complete isolation since October 2023, when his phone was confiscated. They claim he has no contact with the outside world, including family, friends, or legal representatives. The only visitor allowed is a doctor who provides food and medicine.
“The United Nations has rejected the shaky explanations and confirmed what the world already knows: President Bazoum is being held in a cruel and illegal manner,” said Reed Brody, a member of the legal team representing Bazoum.
Junta’s Allegations and Niger’s Exit from ECOWAS
Niger’s military rulers have justified Bazoum’s detention by accusing him of attempting to collaborate with foreign powers to stage a counter-coup. However, the UN dismissed these claims, stating that the junta had not provided any legal basis for his prolonged detention.
In June 2023, a junta-appointed court lifted Bazoum’s presidential immunity, setting the stage for an eventual trial, though no date has been set. The ECOWAS Court of Justice ordered his release in December 2023, but Niger has since exited the regional bloc, ignoring the ruling.
As international pressure mounts, Niger’s military government remains firm, leaving Bazoum’s fate uncertain.
