- Around 30 Nobel Laureates, including Wole Soyinka, demand the release of Niger’s former president Mohamed Bazoum, detained since July 2023
- The laureates describe Bazoum’s detention conditions as “arbitrary,” urging military leaders to free him amid accusations of treason and terrorism
Around 30 Nobel Laureates, including Denis Mukwege and Wole Soyinka, have called for the immediate release of Niger’s former president, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained since a military coup in July 2023.
In a public letter by Le Monde, the laureates urged the military leaders responsible for the coup to free Bazoum. The letter emphasized the harsh conditions Bazoum and his wife, Hadiza, face. They are under strict surveillance, with minimal access to communication, which the signatories describe as “arbitrary.”
The coup was led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, with the military accusing Bazoum of treason, terrorism funding, and conspiring against the state.
However, Nobel Laureates, including Cameroonian author Achille Mbembe, argue these accusations are part of a larger effort to punish Bazoum for his firm stance on democracy and anti-corruption measures.
Despite being under house arrest in the presidential palace, Bazoum has refused to step down.
Niger, independent from France since 1960, has faced ongoing political instability, with five successful coups and two failed ones. The military justified their actions by citing security concerns, though violence persists. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) reports around 1,500 deaths in jihadist attacks in the past year, compared to 650 deaths during Bazoum’s tenure.