Nigerien President ‘in good spirits’ despite detention
By Abbas musa kanempress
13 august 2023
Reports say Nigerien president, Mohamed Bazoum is in “good spirits” despite being held in “difficult” conditions by the military junta which deposed him.
The President’s doctor disclosed after a visit.
“Living conditions remain difficult, with the electricity still cut off,” the doctor reported.
The visit was approved amid growing international demands for his release.
The visit by the President’s doctor was the first outside contact the president had had since he was overthrown.
Reports say 63 years old Mr Bazoum has lost a “worrying” amount of weight, while his 20-year-old son, who has a chronic medical condition, was also reportedly denied care.
“The doctor was able to talk to the Head of State, as well as his wife and son,” “All are well, he said. The doctor was also able to bring them food and medicines.”
“Following the visit, President Bazoum’s family said they were relieved,”
The decision by the military junta, led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, to bring in the family’s doctor was in response to widespread condemnation of the president’s detention since the coup.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk described the conditions of the detention of the president and his family members as inhumane, degrading and in violation of international human rights law.
President Bazoma’s daughter Zazia, 34, who was on holiday in France during the coup, said that her father, mother and brother had no clean water or electricity and were living on rice and pasta.
Fresh food was rotting in the fridge because there was no power, she said.
“The situation of my family is very difficult currently,” she told the newspaper. “They say they will keep fighting, but it’s hard to see our family in this situation and they can’t go out,” Zaria said.
