Jurist News: UN working group calls for release of former Niger president

Benhamayemohamed, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

By Pamel Kaur | U. Auckland Law School, NZ

February 12, 2025 08:05:32 am

According to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UN WGAD) urged the release of Nigerien former President Mohamed Bazoum and his wife, Hadiza, on Wednesday.

UN WGAD emphasized that Bazoum’s detention violates international human rights law, particularly the prohibition against arbitrary detention, a statement given to AFP and reported by News Central Africa confirms. The UN panel highlighted that the detention had not been carried out under Niger’s legal framework and was instead a consequence of the coup. This is potentially a violation of Bazoum’s right to a fair trial and personal liberty. These rights are enshrined in Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Niger is a party. According to HRW, Niger’s junta should cooperate with the UN to release Bazoum and any other arbitrarily detained person.

Bazoum’s legal team has also called for his release following the UN’s statement. The UN WGAD report is part of ongoing international efforts to address the situation, as the former president remains in detention under uncertain conditions, raising concerns about his legal rights and the rule of law in Niger.

This call comes in the wake of the coup that ousted Bazoum in 2023, during which he has since been detained incommunicado, with limited access to the outside world. In June of 2024, a junta-backed court revoked Bazoum of his presidential immunity, paving the way for a potential trial, although no date has been set.

The United Nations’ call to release Bazoum and his wife brings further scrutiny to human rights violations in Niger. If the junta, which assumed power following the coup, does not comply with the UN’s recommendations, it could face international legal consequences, including sanctions. Further diplomatic isolation could also occur, as Niger already left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in February 2025. By failing to heed the UN’s call, Niger risks undermining its standing under international law, particularly in terms of its adherence to human rights conventions and the ICCPR.