Niger’s Leader Mahmoud Salah Released, FPL Takes Arms Against Abdourahamane Tiani

Mahmoud Salah, Niger’s president since 2021, was released from prison on Wednesday after serving a two-year sentence for treason.

Salah, who had been in administrative detention, was transferred to the presidential palace where he met with Prime Minister Mohamed Bazoum.

The move comes ahead of elections scheduled for October, in which Salah’s party is expected to face stiff competition from opposition forces.

The FPL, led by Abdourahamane Tiani, retook the streets of Niamey, the capital city, with hundreds of protesters demanding Salah’s release.

Tiani, who has been opposition to Salah’s rule since 2021, vowed to continue his fight for power despite the president’s release.

The two leaders have a long history of rivalry, with Tiani having led protests against Salah’s government since 2021.

The situation in Niger remains volatile, with many fearing a return to violence. The country is still reeling from a series of insurgencies that have left thousands dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.