Since the coup in July 2023, former Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum and his wife have been held at the presidential palace in Niamey under the authority of the military junta. Recent findings from the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention deemed their custody arbitrary and a breach of international human rights law, demanding their immediate release.
International bodies have consistently condemned Bazoum’s detention as unlawful. In September 2023, he lodged a complaint with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court, which ruled in December that both he and his family were arbitrarily detained, also calling for their freedom.
Following these developments, in April 2024, Niger’s junta began legal action to revoke Bazoum’s presidential immunity, allowing potential prosecution for alleged offences during his presidency. In June, a court acquiesced to this action despite lacking adherence to basic due process, paving the way for the junta’s planned charges of high treason against him.
The ongoing situation reflects a broader crackdown on dissent by the junta, evident in their extensive measures to suppress political opposition and media. At least 30 officials from the prior government have faced arbitrary detention, and nine associates of Bazoum have been stripped of their citizenship, losing essential protections. Civil society faces similar harassments, exemplified by the apprehension of activist Moussa Tchangari, who has been charged but awaits trial.
The military junta’s heavy-handed tactics have also led to restrictions on human rights oversight, as demonstrated by their recent expulsion of the International Committee of the Red Cross, raising alarms regarding the treatment of detainees. The call for Bazoum’s release resonates, underlining that his continued detention lacks justification and must end.
Niger’s junta must heed the UN Working Group’s call and liberate not only Bazoum and his wife but all individuals imprisoned for politically motivated reasons, restoring some semblance of justice and political freedom to Niger.
The landscape remains bleak, indicating a pressing need for reconsideration of human rights practices and legal processes in Niger, fostering hope for a return to democracy and equality.
Mohamed Bazoum, the former president of Niger, has been unlawfully detained since July 2023 following a military coup. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has called for his and his wife’s release, citing violations of international law. Multiple judicial bodies, including the ECOWAS Court, have deemed their detention arbitrary. The junta’s actions highlight broader concerns regarding human rights and political repression within Niger.
In summary, the UN and various judicial bodies have denounced the arbitrary detention of Mohamed Bazoum, spotlighting the ongoing legal struggles and human rights violations under Niger’s current military regime. The junta’s actions extend beyond individual cases, illustrating a systematic suppression of dissenting voices and political opposition, revealing a dire need for international intervention and adherence to human rights standards.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
