Thursday morning in Niamey was shaken by a series of events which plunged the capital of Niger into a confused and tense situation. According to information reported by the ruling military junta, ousted president Mohamed Bazoum and his entourage tried to escape early in the morning. Shots were reportedly fired during the operation, adding to the surrounding confusion.
However, those close to the ex-president have a very different version of the story. According to them, Mohamed Bazoum was separated from his wife and son in the middle of the night, and their phones were confiscated. Two former bodyguards of the family were also arrested. This version, considered “incredible” by some observers, calls into question the accusations made by the military junta.
In this tense context, Mohamed Bazoum’s international lawyers also expressed their concern about the detention of their client. They denounced his incommunicado detention and called for his immediate release. These lawyers also stressed that it was absurd to accuse someone of escape when he was not in the hands of justice.
This situation also comes after a decision taken by a Nigerien judge demanding the release of the son of the ex-president, Salem Bazoum. This decision has been notified to Niger State, but it remains to be seen whether it will actually be implemented.
Overall, this alleged escape attempt and the separation from the ousted president’s family raises many questions and fuels tensions in Niamey. It is essential that the authorities shed light on these events and respect the fundamental rights of all individuals concerned. A peaceful and equitable resolution of the situation is necessary to ensure stability and reconciliation in Niger.