A new chapter unfolds in Niger’s political crisis as the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention demands the immediate release of former President Mohamed Bazoum and his wife, Hadiza.
The couple has endured eighteen months of isolation in a wing of the presidential residence since the July 2023 military coup, cut off from all outside contact except for medical visits.
The UN body’s declaration marks their detention as a clear violation of international law, echoing earlier calls from Secretary-General António Guterres for Bazoum’s reinstatement as head of state.
The situation has grown increasingly complex as Niger’s military regime accuses the former president of plotting with foreign powers against state security. The regime’s decision in June to revoke Bazoum’s presidential immunity paved the way for potential prosecution, though no trial date has been set.