Salem Bazoum, the son of ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, left Lomé for Dubai. Salem had been relocated to the Togolese capital earlier in the year after spending over five months under house arrest at the presidential residence in Niamey with his parents following the coup d’état on July 26th, 2023. The former Nigerian president and his wife remain detained in Niger.
Multiple sources confirm Salem Bazoum’s departure from the Togolese capital to Dubai, where the 22-year-old intends to continue his studies. According to close sources, Salem was deeply affected by his living conditions in Lomé. Under surveillance, he lacked freedom of movement.
Salem Bazoum departed Niger on January 8th, accompanied by the Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, who acted as a mediator in the matter, following over five months of detention at the presidential residence in Niamey with his parents. He had been granted temporary freedom by the Niamey military tribunal.
However, a previous ruling by a judge of the Niamey High Court for his immediate release, issued three months earlier, had gone unheeded. The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Republic (CNSP), which appealed, had upheld his detention.
Since July, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which lifted its sanctions against Niger at the end of February, has been advocating for the release of the former president and his family. Mohamed Bazoum remains detained in Niamey with his spouse.
Currently, the State Court is deliberating on lifting his immunity to facilitate his trial. A decision is anticipated on May 10th.