The ousted leader of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, and his family are reportedly enduring deplorable conditions while in the custody of their military captors. Zazia Bazoum, the president's daughter, disclosed to The Guardian the distressing situation her family is facing. She revealed that they have been subjected to harsh treatment, including the cutting off of electricity to their presidential residence, resulting in deteriorating health and living conditions.
The family's plight began when Mohamed Bazoum was detained by his own presidential guard in a coup last month, throwing Niger into political turmoil. Zazia Bazoum, who was in France on holiday at the time of the coup, maintains regular phone contact with her family members, revealing their ordeal.
Zazia stated that her father, mother, and brother are struggling to access clean water and essential supplies. They are surviving on limited provisions of rice and pasta, with their gas oven also running low on fuel. The lack of electricity has not only plunged them into darkness but also subjected them to unbearable heat.
“The situation of my family is very difficult currently. They are staying in the dark, and the weather in Niger is very difficult. So it’s very sad that they are always in the dark and the house is very hot … it’s OK for them, they say they will keep fighting, but it’s hard for (me and my two siblings abroad) to see our family in this situation and they can’t go out,”
Zazia said to The Guardian on the phone from Paris.
The dire circumstances have led to rapid weight loss among family members, while perishable food items are rotting in the fridge due to the absence of electricity. The situation is raising concerns about their health and well-being. Zazia expressed the sadness of witnessing her family's suffering from afar, especially given the difficult conditions they are enduring.
Zazia Bazoum, a trained banking lawyer, collaborates with her mother, Hadja Hadiza Bazoum, in Niger's first lady's foundation, Noor. The foundation primarily focuses on health and education initiatives within the country. Despite international efforts to pressure the junta for Mohamed Bazoum's release, the self-proclaimed new head of state, Gen Abdourahamane Tiani, and his allies have taken steps to consolidate their power, forming a new government.
Zazia's account sheds light on the psychological pressure being imposed on her family. The manipulation of basic necessities such as electricity, clean water, and food reveals an alarming strategy to force Mohamed Bazoum's resignation. The family's access to the outside world has been restricted, with even US senior diplomat Victoria Nuland being denied access to them during her recent visit to Niamey. Zazia expressed doubt about the military's willingness to release her father and suggested that they might consider releasing her mother and brother.
However, she believes that Mohamed Bazoum's support base poses a threat to the junta's control, potentially explaining their reluctance to set him free. The situation in Niger remains tense as the country navigates its political landscape amidst concerns about the well-being of its ousted leader and his family.
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