The fate of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, detained since the July 26th coup, is of growing concern within the international community. On August 11th, 2023, the European Union and the African Union expressed their concern about the Head of State. The junta notably threatened on several occasions to execute him if ever the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) launched an armed intervention.
The situation of President Mohamed Bazoum is worrying, the Nigerian president has been kidnapped since July 26th, 2023, the date of a coup in Niger, in his residence with his family.
The Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS), President Mohamed Bazoum’s party, along with the international community, have issued multiple warnings regarding the worsening conditions of his detention.
On August 8th, the United States Department of State conveyed deep concern about President Mohamed Bazoum’s health and safety.
On August 11th, the European Union expressed its “deep concern” at the “deterioration of the conditions of detention” of Mohamed Bazoum and again called for his “immediate and unconditional” release.
“Save Life” by Mohamed Bazoum
Concern was also relayed this Friday by the African Union. The AU has expressed its “serious concerns” following the “worrying deterioration” of the conditions of detention of Mohamed Bazoum. For the AU, such treatment of an elected head of state is “inadmissible”.
The president of the Commission, the Chadian Moussa Faki thus demanded his “immediate release” and called on the international community to rally its efforts to “save the life” of the one who won the presidential election in 2021.