The son of Niger’s ousted president, Mohammed Bazoum, was released yesterday by a military tribunal after over five months in custody. Salem Bazoum, detained since the July 26, 2023, coup, left for Togo following successful mediation by regional leaders.
Salem, who was apprehended with his parents at the presidential palace during the coup, was under house arrest. While his release marks a significant development, his parents remain in detention under General Abdourahamane Tchiani’s junta, which continues to resist diplomatic pressure for their release.
The tribunal described Bazoum Jr.’s release as provisional, stating he must be available for judicial proceedings when required. He faced charges of conspiring to undermine state authority following the coup.
In a dramatic turn of events last October, the junta accused the Bazoum family, including two cooks and security officials, of a failed escape attempt.
Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey personally escorted Bazoum Jnr out of Niger, as confirmed by the tribunal and Togo’s government. However, the exact details of his whereabouts remain undisclosed.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, lauded the release as a positive step towards restoring stability in Niger. Tuggar, also the Chairperson of the Mediation and Security Council of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), emphasized the importance of this action in bringing normalcy back to the region.
According to a report by The Guardian, he further urged the Tchiani-led government to expedite the release of President Mohammed Bazoum and facilitate his departure to a third country. This move is seen as crucial for lifting sanctions and initiating a transition back to constitutional rule, which is vital for the peace and stability of Niger and its surrounding region.
The Niger coup generated a global uproar, leading ECOWAS, chaired by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, to impose sanctions against the regime. Despite threats of military intervention to restore democracy, such actions faced opposition from various groups, including West African lawmakers in the ECOWAS Parliament.
