The European Parliament unanimously condemned the continued detention of Niger’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and his wife on March 11, 2026, demanding their immediate release. The resolution also called for the release of “other individuals detained in the coup,” a move swiftly rejected by Niger’s military authorities.
Niger’s Foreign Affairs Ministry responded by summoning the European Union’s representative in Niamey, accusing the EU of interference in the country’s internal affairs, according to reports from Google News.
Bazoum and his wife have been held captive since the military coup that removed him from power over two-and-a-half years ago. International bodies have repeatedly denounced the detention as unlawful. In February 2025, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined that the detention violated international human rights law and requested their immediate release. Similarly, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice ruled in December 2023 that Bazoum and his family were being held unlawfully and ordered their release – a directive ignored by the junta.
Instead of complying with these rulings, Niger’s military government initiated legal proceedings to strip Bazoum of his presidential immunity in April 2024, paving the way for potential charges related to alleged crimes committed during his presidency. That immunity was subsequently lifted in June 2024 following a court process criticized for failing to meet basic due process standards. Authorities have indicated their intention to prosecute him for high treason.
The detention of Bazoum is part of a wider pattern of repression targeting political opposition, the media, and civil society groups. The junta has restricted opposition activities, delayed a return to civilian rule, and targeted journalists and activists. At least 30 former government officials are reportedly being held without due process. Human rights activist Moussa Tiangari, a vocal critic of the junta, was arrested in December 2024 and remains in detention on terrorism-related charges, which observers have characterized as fabricated. Six journalists, arrested in October 2025, are also being held under a broad cybercrime law.
The European Parliament’s resolution comes amid growing international pressure on Niger’s military government. The EU has previously urged the junta to free Bazoum, as reported by Vanguard News and other outlets. Still, the junta has shown no indication of yielding to these calls.
As of March 14, 2026, the status of President Bazoum and his wife remains unchanged, and the junta has not responded to the European Parliament’s latest demands with any commitment to release them or address the broader concerns regarding human rights and political freedoms in Niger.
