Niger coup; deposed president’s wife, son released from house arrest

Dismissed Nigerien President Mohammad Bazoum, his wife, and son have been released from house arrest.

In a statement by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar on Tuesday, Bazoum’s wife and the son were released after months of being held under house arrest.

The Nigerien President and members of his family were committed to the house by the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, the ruling military junta in Niger after he was overthrown on July 26th last year.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs has commended the release of the former Niger leader.

Tuggar, who is also the Chairperson of the Mediation and Security Council of ECOWAS, said “It is a logical step in bringing normalcy back to the country and the region in general.”

He reiterated the call to the government led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani to hasten the release of Mohammed Bazoum from its custody and allow him to fly to a third country as a step towards further talks on lifting sanctions and to initiate the transition to constitutional rule in the interest of the people, peace, and stability of Niger and the region.