Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – An international collective of citizens and organizations gathered in Dakar on Friday to demand the release of former Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained for over two years following a military coup.
The group, known as the Collectif Free Mohamed Bazoum, described him as “the only democratically elected head of state currently held captive in the world.”
Global Support Grows Rapidly
The initiative has already garnered more than 5,000 signatures from supporters across multiple countries, surpassing the group’s initial goal of 3,000 endorsements. “Our struggle is not political. It is a fight for the liberation of an elected president, against lies, and for democracy,” said a spokesperson during the press conference in Dakar.
To strengthen their appeal, the collective has formally addressed letters to Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former U.S. President Barack Obama, urging them to engage in mediation efforts.
The group also called on the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to intervene and review awards given to former Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou, whom some accuse of complicity in the coup against Bazoum.
Legal Violations and a Call to Action
Reed Brody, one main Bazoum’s lawyer, who attended the Dakar event, outlined the legal violations surrounding the former president’s detention. “Almost two and a half years ago, a military coup overthrew a democratically elected president. Since then, Mohamed Bazoum and his wife Adidja have been held without charges, without trial, and without legal basis,” Brody said.
He noted that both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice in December 2023 and the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in February 2025 declared the detention illegal and ordered their immediate release. “Two independent institutions have made their decisions, yet nothing has changed,” he added.
Bazoum and his wife are reportedly confined within the presidential residence in Niamey, with minimal contact outside of twice-weekly visits from a doctor.
The collective portrays Bazoum as a symbol of integrity and resistance, highlighting his refusal to resign despite relentless pressure and framing his detention as a stain not only on Niger but also on the broader credibility of democracy in Africa.
The Collectif Free Mohamed Bazoum also sent a direct message to General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the military junta in Niger, urging the unconditional release of Bazoum as a first step toward national reconciliation. The group framed 2026 as a potential turning point, advocating for a year of “freedom, forgiveness, and reconciliation” rather than continued captivity.
“Libérer Bazoum pour l’honneur de l’Afrique” (“Free Bazoum for the honor of Africa”) has become the collective’s rallying cry, emphasizing that the stakes extend beyond Niger to the credibility of democratic governance across the continent.
