Two years later, former Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum remains in arbitrary detention
(Nairobi) – Human Rights Watch has called for the urgent release of Mohamed Bazoum, the former president of Niger, who has been held in arbitrary detention for two years following a military coup.
On July 26, 2023, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), led by Brigadier General Abdourahamane Tiani, overthrew the government and arrested Mohamed Bazoum along with his wife, Hadiza Bazoum. The couple continues to be held within the presidential palace in Niamey, the nation’s capital, without access to legal counsel or their family members. Following the removal of his presidential immunity by the junta in 2024, Mohamed Bazoum is now facing an impending trial.
« The military junta in Niger demonstrates a blatant disregard for the rule of law every day that former President Mohamed Bazoum and his wife remain in custody », stated Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. « This politically motivated detention and the subsequent legal actions undermine any claims by the junta regarding a transition to a more democratic Niger. »
While the junta declared its intention in August 2023 to prosecute Mohamed Bazoum for « high treason » and « undermining internal and external state security », he has yet to appear before a judge for any preliminary hearings.
In September of that year, Mohamed Bazoum filed a petition with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, citing human rights violations during his captivity. By December, the ECOWAS court ruled that his detention was arbitrary and ordered his immediate release. However, in January 2025, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso formally withdrew from the ECOWAS bloc.
Legal proceedings to strip Mohamed Bazoum of his presidential immunity began in April 2024. In June, the State Court of Niger ruled against him in a process that failed to meet international standards for fair trials and due process. With his immunity revoked, the junta intends to pursue charges of high treason, though a trial date has not been established.
In February 2025, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, an independent expert panel, concluded that the imprisonment of Mohamed Bazoum and his wife violated international human rights law and called for their instant release.
« Mohamed Bazoum has been subjected to a cruel and unlawful imprisonment for two years without formal charges or a trial, isolated from his children, supporters, and legal team », said Reed Brody, a member of the legal team representing the former president. « Despite clear mandates from international courts and UN bodies, Mohamed Bazoum remains a hostage of the military authorities. »
Human Rights Watch noted that the treatment of Mohamed Bazoum is indicative of a broader pattern of repression by the military junta, which has targeted political opponents, peaceful dissenters, and the media. These actions suggest an effort to solidify power while delaying a return to civilian rule and the organization of transparent, free elections.
« Every day Mohamed Bazoum remains in custody, Niger drifts further from a democratic path », Allegrozzi concluded. « The authorities in Niger should consider the message this two-year detention sends both to the region and the international community. »
