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From · resolution motion · 2026-03-09 B-10-2026-0163 on the arbitrary detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the junta in Niger
To · Adopted text · 2026-03-12 TA-10-2026-0082 The arbitrary detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the junta in Niger
These two texts have too little in common to be compared paragraph by paragraph — they are different documents rather than versions of one (for example one group's motion against the joint text that was adopted).
+14 added · −14 removed · 6 modified paragraphs

B100163/2026

P10_TA(2026)0082

European Parliament resolution on theThe arbitrary detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the junta in Niger

(2026/2642(RSP))

PE782.990

European Parliament resolution of 12 March 2026 on the arbitrary detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the junta in Niger (2026/2642(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to RuleRules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas in JulyA. 2023whereas a military coup ledtook toplace thein dissolutionNiger ofon the26 electedJuly government2023, infollowing Nigerwhich andthe arbitrarycountry’s arrestsconstitutional oforder officialswas dissolved and civilians;a military junta established;

whereas the democratically elected President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum and his wife remain since then illegally detained in near-total isolation, despite international institutions condemning his detention and ordering his immediate release and reinstatement;

B. whereas since the coup President Bazoum and his wife have been held by the ruling junta and are reportedly being detained without access to lawyers or family visits, and receiving only limited medical care; whereas for over a year no verifiable information on their condition has been made publicly available;

whereas the Nigerien Constitution remains suspended, all activities of political parties are officially dissolved, and critical media and peaceful dissent are repressed;

C. whereas the State Court lifted Bazoum’s presidential immunity and the authorities vowed to prosecute him for ‘high treason’, which may lead to the death penalty;

whereas Niger’s January 2025 withdrawal from ECOWAS has led to economic, security and isolation threats for the region's population;

D. whereas the junta has engaged in broader repression, imposing increasing restrictions on human rights defenders, political opposition, civil society, and media freedom; whereas it has suspended the Constitution, threatening freedom of religion;

whereas the Alliance of Sahel States’s (AES) announced intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) would significantly undermine the chances of victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide in the region to seek justice;

E. whereas the security situation in Niger and across the Sahel continues to deteriorate as jihadist groups carry out deadly attacks;

whereas sinceF. 2023,whereas the humanitarian situation in Niger has deteriorated sharply dueowing to increasingthe insecuritydeteriorating security situation and severe climate shocks, leaving nearly one million people displaced;displaced whereasand accessthree tomillion in need of humanitarian aidassistance, iswhich has been severely restricted following the mass dissolution of NGOs and the expulsion of major international actors like the ICRC;actors;

Condemns continued, arbitrary and unlawful detention of President Mohamed Bazoum;

G. whereas developments in Niger are part of a worrying broader regional trend of democratic and human rights backsliding in the Sahel;

Calls on the Nigerien1. authoritiesStrongly forcondemns the immediate andcontinued unconditionalarbitrary releasedetention of Presidentdemocratically Mohamedelected Bazoum,President andBazoum ensuringand his access to legal representationwife and medicalall care,other andindividuals callsdetained forin the fullcoup, respectand ofcalls thefor humantheir rightsimmediate and fundamental freedoms of his familyunconditional members;release;

Deplores the intensified actions of the Nigerien authorities undermining democracy, human rights, freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly;

2. Emphasises that Niger has been an EU partner in the Sahel in various areas of cooperation; stresses that since the coup the situation in Niger has worsened and security risks have increased, including human and arms trafficking and irregular migration flows across the Sahel;

Calls3. onCondemns the Nigerienrepression authoritiesof topolitical restoreactors, constitutionaljournalists orderand incivil Nigersociety, withoutand delay,calls andon the Nigerien authorities to accelerate the process of restoring democratic order, including the reinstatement of political parties;parties and the organisation of free and fair elections;

Expresses deep concern over the AES announced intention to withdraw from the ICC; urges the Nigerien authorities to release all those detained without a fair trial and to uphold international law;

4. Emphasises the importance of ensuring the continued delivery and accessibility of EU humanitarian aid and basic services in conflict areas in Niger;

Underlines the importance of continued humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable; welcomes continuation of EU’s projects, at Niger’s request, to respond to urgent needs; recalls all parties of the obligation to ensure unhindered humanitarian access;

5. Expresses deep concern over Niger’s announced intention to withdraw from the ICC; urges the Nigerien authorities to uphold international law;

Calls on the EU to continue supporting humanitarian actors and local organisations providing assistance to the affected population;

6. Expresses deep concern about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel, and stresses that democratic legitimacy, accountable governance and respect for human rights are essential to addressing insecurity and protecting civilians;

Expresses support for the engagement of the EU Special Representative for the Sahel to secure the release of President Bazoum and for a frank, honest and structured dialogue with the Niger authorities based on mutual respect and shared interests;

7. Calls on the VP/HR, the Member States, the African Union and the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure the release of President Bazoum;

Calls on the HR/VP and the Member States to strengthen diplomatic engagement in order to secure the immediate release of President Bazoum, and ensure that the fundamental rights and freedoms of his family are upheld;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the VP/HR, the African Union, ECOWAS and the authorities of Niger and the Alliance of Sahel States.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the HR/VP, and the authorities of Niger and the Alliance of Sahel States.