Putsch in West Africa: Niger’s ex-president has been locked up in the palace for two years

Two years after the military coup in Niger, the deposed former President Mohamed Bazoum continued to be locked up in the Presidential Palace. The 65-year-old and his wife Hadiza have no contact with their lawyers, their family or supporters, as the human rights organization Human Rights Watch announced.

The military had torn power in the West African desert state with around 27 million inhabitants on July 23, 2023. The leader was the head of Bazoum’s presidential guard, General Abdourahaman Tiani. In the meantime, Tiani has been declared the new president without elections until at least 2030.

Two years “hostage” – with Marx, Shakespeare and Tolstoy

Bazoum and his wife were locked up in their residence on the day of the coup, which they have not been allowed to leave since then. Your stay has been limited to some rooms since an alleged attempt to escape. Mobile devices were taken away from them. According to his lawyers, the only contact to the outside world is a regular visit to a doctor. The military government accuses Bazoum Hochverrat. So far, however, there has been no process.

“Despite the clear judgments of international courts and UN committees that demand his release, he remains hostage of a military junta,” said one of the lawyers according to HRW. Bazoum spends his days to train on an indoor bike and read Marxist theory, Shakespeare and Tolstoy, reported the “New York Times” last year. His son, which was initially held initially, was allowed to leave Togos 2024 after mediation.

Bazoum was considered a close friend of Europe

The President, who was democratically elected in 2021, had a very good relationship with European countries and the United States, which the Niger served as an important partner in the fight against Islamist terrorist groups in the region as well as migration towards Europe. Bazoum also campaigned for controversial topics such as the schooling of young girls and negotiations with the jihadists. The Niger has one of the highest born rates like uranium, despite rich mineral resources, one of the poorest populations in the world.