Niger’s Ex-President Bazoum Remains Detained Two Years After Military Coup

Two years after a military coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani ousted Niger's democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, he and his wife remain confined within the presidential palace, isolated from family, lawyers, and supporters. Despite rulings from international courts and the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice calling for his release, Bazoum is held on charges of high treason without a fair trial, and his presidential immunity was lifted in 2024 to enable prosecution. Human Rights Watch condemns Bazoum's politically motivated detention, stating it undermines the junta's claims of democratic governance. Bazoum's detention has drawn criticism for violating due process, with limited contact restricted to occasional medical visits, and no elections planned until at least 2030 under the junta. Before the coup, Bazoum was a key partner of Europe and the United States in combating regional terrorism and migration, and he advocated for progressive policies including girls' education and dialogue with separatists. His son, initially detained, was allowed to leave the country following mediation efforts.