Last year, the world witnessed a major turning point in Niger’s history. Mohamed Bazoum, then the incumbent president, was overthrown in a military coup orchestrated by General Tiani, who seized control of the country with the support of the army. Since then, the military regime has consolidated its power by restricting freedoms, suspending political parties, and repressing all forms of dissent.
No official timetable for a return to civilian rule has been announced, and Niger has drifted further away from its Western allies, moving closer to Russia, a significant geopolitical shift.
Since the coup, Mohamed Bazoum and his wife, Hadiza, have been held in the presidential residence, cut off from the outside world and receiving only regular visits from their doctor. Deprived of a phone and under constant surveillance, Bazoum lives in isolation tightly controlled by the ruling regime.
Yet despite these harsh conditions, Bazoum refuses to resign. A former philosophy professor, he finds solace in reading, exploring classic works from Shakespeare and Tolstoy to contemporary writers such as Romain Gary. He also draws on political works, such as Dominique Moïsi’s “La triomphe des émotions.”
Even after being weakened by a bout of malaria in the spring, Bazoum remains steadfast in his resolve not to give in, even in the face of the recent lifting of his presidential immunity, paving the way for a possible trial.
The political standoff in Niger continues, amid tensions and uncertainty about the country’s future. While the military regime remains in power, voices from within and outside continue to advocate for a return to constitutional order and the restoration of democratic freedoms.
Niger’s fate remains uncertain, suspended between the aspiration for democracy and the weight of an authoritarian regime that clings to power. Mohamed Bazoum embodies this struggle, both a symbol of resistance and a contested figure at the heart of a political crisis that could define the future of the country for years to come.