The wife and son of the ousted President of Niger, Mohammed Bazoum, have been released from house arrest, garnering praise from Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
The family had been confined since the military coup on July 26, 2023, led by the National Council for the Safeguard of Homeland. The release of Bazoum’s family was welcomed by Minister Tuggar, who, in a statement on Tuesday, commended the move as a crucial step towards restoring stability in Niger.
Tuggar, who also chairs the Mediation and Security Council of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), emphasized the importance of this development in the broader context of bringing normalcy back to the region.
President Bazoum, who was democratically elected, was ousted by the military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, citing allegations of incompetence. The global community, including ECOWAS, reacted strongly to the coup, imposing sanctions and demanding the swift restoration of democratic order.
Ambassador Tuggar seized the opportunity to call on the current government, headed by General Tchiani, to promptly release Mohammed Bazoum from custody and facilitate his departure to a third country.
Tuggar underscored that such a move would not only pave the way for discussions on lifting sanctions but also serve as a crucial step towards initiating the transition to constitutional rule. The Minister highlighted the paramount importance of prioritizing the interests of the people and ensuring lasting peace and stability in Niger and the surrounding region.
The international community had previously expressed its concern over the coup, leading ECOWAS, chaired by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, to impose sanctions on the regime in Niamey. The threat of military intervention, issued by ECOWAS, faced opposition from various quarters, including West African lawmakers in the ECOWAS Parliament.
