- 50+ officials freed, but Bazoum remains detained
- Despite global pressure, Bazoum remains under house arrest
- The junta has strengthened ties with Russia
Niger’s military leaders have freed over 50 detainees, including former ministers from the government they ousted in 2023.
The release includes former ministers of defense, oil, and finance, as well as several high-ranking military officers who were either convicted or accused of attempting previous coups. However, ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been under house arrest since the military takeover, was not among those released, despite calls from the international community for his freedom.
When asked by the BBC about Bazoum’s continued detention, Justice Minister Aliyou Daouda stated that the issue was a matter of “national security and sovereignty,” asserting that Bazoum’s release was an internal issue for Niger alone.
Bazoum is facing charges of undermining national security and high treason.
The release of these detainees follows recommendations made during a national conference in February, which also included a proposal to extend General Abdourahamane Tiani’s rule by another five years.
The ministers and officials had been arrested following the July 2023 coup that brought General Tiani to power, with charges related to alleged plots against the state. This move to release them may be seen as an attempt by the junta to foster national reconciliation and gain popular support.
Similar amnesties have been granted in other countries where military coups took place, including Burkina Faso and Guinea.
Since taking power, General Tiani’s administration has cultivated closer ties with Russia while severing relations with France. It has also demanded the withdrawal of French military bases from Niger. Additionally, Niger’s relations with its neighboring countries have deteriorated, and along with Mali and Burkina Faso, it has withdrawn from the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS.
