Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s ousted leader, remains in detention as his official presidential term ends on Thursday, with no indication of release or trial by the ruling military junta.
Bazoum, who was sworn in on April 2, 2021 after winning 55 per cent of the vote, has been held since the July 26, 2023 coup led by Abdourahamane Tiani. He is currently detained in a wing of the presidential palace in Niamey alongside his wife.
Despite his removal from power, Bazoum has refused to resign. His legal team argues that his tenure should not be considered concluded, as he has been unable to perform his duties since the coup.
A member of his legal team, Moussa Coulibaly, said the period of detention should not count toward his time in office, insisting that his mandate was interrupted rather than completed.
However, political analyst Valery Ntwali noted that under current conditions, Bazoum has effectively lost legal standing following the suspension of the constitution under which he was elected.
The junta has since replaced the constitution with a new charter adopted last year, allowing it to remain in power for an additional five years, with no elections conducted since the takeover.
The legal and political situation remains uncertain, with no clear consensus on whether the pre-coup constitutional framework or the junta’s authority should prevail.
Although Niger’s military government has taken a firm stance on sovereignty and distanced itself from some Western nations, it has resumed limited security cooperation with the United States and strengthened ties with Russia.
Relations with France and the European Union remain strained, particularly over calls for Bazoum’s release and a return to democratic governance.
By Esther Ndu
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