
Two years on from the military coup that ousted him, Mohamed Bazoum remains confined within Niger’s presidential palace under conditions described as inhumane.
The former president, a symbol of democratic legitimacy, is held in isolation alongside his wife Hadiza, with no access to family, lawyers, or the outside world. His detention reflects the deepening democratic crisis engulfing Niger and the wider Sahel region.
Since the coup on 26 July 2023, Niger has been ruled by a military junta led by Abdourahamane Tiani, which abruptly ended Bazoum’s democratically elected mandate. Despite intense pressure, Bazoum refuses to relinquish his claim to the presidency, embodying resistance against authoritarian rule.
Reports paint a bleak picture of his confinement: the couple is reportedly restricted to two small rooms, denied fresh air, healthcare, or basic human support. In June 2024, a Nigerien court stripped Bazoum of his presidential immunity, paving the way for charges including “high treason” and “endangering state security.” His supporters insist these accusations are politically motivated and call them a blatant abuse of justice.
International bodies including the United Nations, ECOWAS, and human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch have condemned the treatment of Bazoum and demanded his immediate release. Yet the junta remains defiant, sending a stark message of disregard for the rule of law.
With Niger’s withdrawal from ECOWAS alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, the junta has tightened its grip by repressing dissent, silencing independent media, and blocking any democratic transition. The prolonged detention of Bazoum underscores the regime’s determination to consolidate power at the expense of constitutional order.
As Niger’s first president from the Arab minority, democratically elected in 2021, Mohamed Bazoum now represents a broader struggle for popular sovereignty amid a wave of military takeovers destabilizing West Africa. His plight poses a critical question: is a return to democracy still possible in a region increasingly dominated by coups and authoritarianism?