Human rights advocates are urging Niger’s military authorities to immediately release former President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held without legal justification for over two years since his ousting in a coup.
On July 26, 2023, officers from Niger’s self-proclaimed National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, forcibly removed Bazoum from power. Both he and his wife, Hadiza Bazoum, were detained at the presidential palace in Niamey, the capital. Since then, they have been denied contact with family members and legal representation. In 2024, the junta stripped Bazoum of his presidential immunity, paving the way for politically motivated charges.
International bodies and rights groups have repeatedly condemned his detention.
« The Nigerien junta’s refusal to release Mohamed Bazoum and his wife exposes its blatant disregard for the rule of law, » said Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Sahel Researcher at Human Rights Watch. « Their prolonged detention, coupled with baseless prosecutions, undermines any claim to democratic legitimacy. »
In August 2023, the junta announced plans to charge Bazoum with « high treason » and « undermining national security », yet no preliminary hearings have been held. By September, Bazoum filed a petition with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, citing human rights violations. In December, the court ruled his detention arbitrary and ordered his immediate release. Despite this, the junta has continued to hold him, while Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso officially withdrew from ECOWAS in January 2025.
In April 2024, authorities initiated legal proceedings to strip Bazoum of his immunity, a move criticized for violating international fair trial standards. In June, a Nigerien court approved the immunity revocation, paving the way for his prosecution. No trial date has been set.
In February 2025, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Bazoum’s detention violates international law and demanded his release. Legal representatives, including Reed Brody, have also condemned his prolonged confinement as unlawful and inhumane.
« For two years, Mohamed Bazoum has been unlawfully imprisoned—denied contact with his children, supporters, and lawyers, with no charges or trial, » Brody stated. « Despite clear rulings from international tribunals and the UN, the junta continues to treat him as a political hostage. »
The junta’s crackdown extends beyond Bazoum, targeting political opponents, peaceful dissent, and media freedom. Analysts warn this repression signals an attempt to delay civilian rule and credible elections, further isolating Niger from regional democratic norms.
« Every day Bazoum remains detained pushes Niger further from democracy, » Allegrozzi warned. « The junta must reconsider the global message its actions send—holding a former leader without cause for two years stains its legitimacy. »