On the arbitrary detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the junta in Niger

B100169/2026

European Parliament resolution on the arbitrary detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the junta in Niger

(2026/2642(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on Niger,

having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas on 26 July 2023 a military coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani overthrew the democratically elected authorities of Niger; whereas since that date President Mohamed Bazoum and his wife, Hadiza Bazoum, have been arbitrarily detained in the presidential palace in Niamey by the self-proclaimed National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland;

whereas they are reportedly detained without access to lawyers or family visits, limited to occasional medical consultations, deprived of communication with the outside world and without independent verification of their conditions; whereas no verifiable information on their condition has been made publicly available for over one year;

whereas the security situation in Niger continues to deteriorate, with increasing restrictions on political opposition, civil society, media freedom and threats to the rights and safety of religious communities, including Christians;

whereas on 29 January 2025 Niger withdrew from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and together with Mali and Burkina Faso, formed the Alliance of Sahel States, weakening regional cooperation;

whereas during the visit of the EU Special Representative for the Sahel to the Prime Minister of Niger in January 2026, the continued detention of President Bazoum was raised, yet no commitment or concrete steps towards his release were provided;

whereas President Bazoum’s original mandate, acquired in the last democratic election on 21 February 2021 was originally scheduled to conclude in April 2026;

Strongly condemns the continued arbitrary detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and his wife by the military junta and calls for their immediate and unconditional release;

Urges the authorities in Niger to ensure President Bazoum and his wife have access to independent medical care, regular family contact, communication with legal counsel and visits by independent international observers;

Deplores that a democratically elected leader, committed to democratic values and universal human rights, has been overthrown and imprisoned by a military junta that remains in power; calls for his reinstatement and for a full and immediate return to constitutional order in Niger;

Expresses its hope that Niger will swiftly establish a clear, credible and inclusive roadmap towards the organisation of free, fair and transparent democratic elections;

Emphasises that President Bazoum was a key partner of the European Union in the Sahel, notably in defence and security cooperation, counterterrorism, combatting arms trafficking, intelligence sharing, and management of regional migration routes; stresses that his removal and detention of have worsened the regional security situation and risk further increasing irregular migration flows, human and arms trafficking across the Sahel towards North Africa and Europe;

Calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to intensify diplomatic efforts and coordination with international partners in order to secure their release;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Member States, the leadership of the Alliance of Sahel States and the authorities of Niger.