FREE PRESIDENT MOHAMED BAZOUM
A Global Call to End his Arbitrary Detention in Niger
We, the undersigned former African heads of state, pro-democracy leaders, and human rights defenders stand in resolute solidarity with the democratically-elected president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, on this two-year anniversary of his unlawful detention.
This week two years ago, on 26 July 2023, President Bazoum was unceremoniously removed from office by means of a military coup. Since then, he and his wife Hadiza have been held virtually incommunicado, without charge or trial – effectively held as human shields for the military regime – under exceedingly harsh conditions, cut off from his loved ones, his allies and colleagues, and legal counsel.
Prior to the coup, President Bazoum’s leadership represented a new era of hope for Niger. A former teacher, he championed girls’ education, fought corruption, and worked successfully to curb violent extremism. His vision for Niger earned plaudits from democratic allies around the world. Today, he endures captivity and isolation, while some of these same allies have remained silent.
Despite these hardships, President Bazoum has never renounced his commitment to a democratic Niger. We call on the junta in Niamey to immediately and unconditionally release President Bazoum and his wife, in line with the decisions of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, both of which found his detention arbitrary and illegal.
The continued detention of President Mohamed Bazoum is a chilling reminder of the deteriorating state of democracy in Niger and the broader Sahel region, and its costs to human rights, the rule of law and governance.
Let this be a clarion call to reaffirm the universal values of freedom.
We urge democratic governments worldwide, regional bodies such as the African Union, and our international partners to break the silence, uphold the rule of law, and stand for the values for which generations of Nigeriens—and Africans—have fought.