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resolution motion, 9 March 2026

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

Motion B-10-2026-0159 · (2026/2642(RSP))

on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Catarina Vieira, Maria Ohisalo, Ville Niinistö, Mounir Satouri

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AI:In short

This resolution condemns the unlawful detention of Niger's deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and calls for his immediate release, along with his family and others arbitrarily detained. It urges the military authorities to respect the rule of law, ensure fair trials, allow visits by human rights bodies, and return to constitutional order with transparent elections. It also stresses the need for continued humanitarian aid and calls on EU member states and the EEAS to monitor developments and support civil society.

Key points

  1. Condemns the unlawful detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and urges his immediate release, along with his family and others arbitrarily detained.
  2. Calls on military authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and bring all detainees before a judge, charging or releasing them appropriately.
  3. Urges that all detainees be treated per the rule of law, with access to lawyers, doctors, food, basic services, and family.
  4. Urges allowing visits to detainees by UN human rights bodies, the African Commission, national human rights commission, and independent monitors.
  5. Condemns the military coup and demands an immediate return to constitutional order and the rule of law, with transparent and inclusive elections.
  6. Emphasizes the importance of delivering free humanitarian aid in conflict areas, including outside government control, and welcomes EU support.
  7. Calls on EU member states and the EEAS to monitor developments, support independent media, civil society, and human rights defenders, including via visas.

Who is affected

  • The military authorities in Niger, who are urged to release detainees and restore constitutional order.
  • Detained persons in Niger, including President Bazoum and his wife, who should receive fair treatment and access to legal and medical support.
  • EU member states and the EEAS, called on to monitor and support civil society and human rights defenders.

Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem

Full text

Text 17 paragraphs

B100159/2026

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 Rules 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Whereas on 26 July 2023 Niger's democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by the members of Niger’s Presidential Guard; whereas Bazoum and his wife are still detained in the presidential palace, under increasingly deteriorating conditions; whereas he is left without trial since 2023; whereas the State Court lifted Bazoum’s presidential immunity and authorities vowed to prosecute him "for high treason” and undermining national security, which may lead to the death penalty;

B. Whereas the coup was strongly condemned by ECOWAS; whereas the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention condemned the violation of Bazoum´s fundamental human rights and called for his immediate release;

C. Whereas the coup d´états in the central Sahel between 2020-2023 and the withdrawals from ECOWAS have accelerated regional instability;

D. Whereas the junta has arbitrarily arrested ministers, officials, journalist and human rights defenders; whereas human rights defenders are targeted as threats to national security; whereas an anti-terrorist registry allows for arbitrary deprivation of citizenship;

E. Whereas Niger continues to face a complex humanitarian crisis driven by escalating insecurity, recurring climate shocks, economic pressures, and displacement—including nearly one million forcibly displaced people—leaving around 3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance across the country;

1. Condemns the unlawful detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and urges the military authorities to immediately release him, his family, and others arbitrarily detained; calls on the military authorities to respect the right to a fair trial and promptly bring all those detained before a judge and be appropriately charged or released;

2. Urges the military authorities to ensure that deposed President Bazoum, his wife and all other detained persons in Niger are treated in line with the rule of law, with access to lawyers, doctors, and access to adequate food, basic services, and family members;

Read the rest (5 paragraphs)

3. Urges the military authorities to allow visits to all detainees by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the national human rights commission, and independent human rights monitors;

4. Condemns the military coup in Niger and recalls on the military authorities to ensure an immediate return to the constitutional order and the rule of law and to facilitate the organisation of transparent and inclusive elections;

5. Emphasises the importance of continuing the delivery and accessibility of free humanitarian aid and basic services in conflict areas, including for those living in territories outside government control; welcomes the EU´s support to humanitarian efforts in Niger despite local and regional challenges and calls for a commitment to continue providing much needed assistance, given the persisting humanitarian crisis;

6. Calls on the EU Member States and the EEAS to actively monitor and report on the developments on the ground and to support independent media and civil society and human rights defenders, including through facilitating visas;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the HR/VP, the Council, the Commission and Niger.