The European Parliament last week adopted a resolution demanding the “immediate” release of former Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained since a military coup ousted him in July 2023. The resolution drew sharp criticism from the Alliance of Sahel states, with Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali denouncing it as an intrusion into their sovereign affairs.
Bazoum, elected president in 2021, was overthrown after just two years in office. He and his wife have remained in detention since the coup, and Niger’s military government has consistently refused international calls for his release.
Niger’s Minister of the Interior described the European Parliament’s resolution as “an aggression” against the country, echoing sentiments from military rulers in Burkina Faso and Mali. All three nations, now governed by military juntas, argued that the resolution constituted “a grave attempt of meddling” in the internal affairs of an independent state.
The resolution reflects ongoing international concern over Bazoum’s detention and the broader political instability in the Sahel region. The European Parliament emphasized that his release is necessary to restore democratic governance and human rights in Niger, while military leaders maintain that such external interventions undermine their authority and national sovereignty.
Analysts warn that tensions between Western institutions and Sahel military governments may further complicate efforts to resolve the political crisis and stabilize the region.
