The rift between Niamey and Strasbourg is widening. With the theoretical end of former president Mohamed Bazoum's term approaching (April 2nd), the European Parliament has passed a near-unanimous resolution demanding his immediate release. The Nigerien junta perceives this initiative as yet another colonial provocation.

A resolution under time pressure

For MEPs, the date of April 2 is not just a symbol: it is the legal end of Mohamed Bazoum's mandate, who has never agreed to resign since the coup of July 26, 2023.

1. The vote: 524 votes in favor, only 2 against.
2. The reason: Conviction of a detention deemed "arbitrary" and a threat of the death penalty for "high treason".
3. The issue at stake: According to MEP Christophe Gomart (EPP), keeping Bazoum in detention beyond this date would mark a "serious failure" for international diplomacy.

Between "interference" and the defense of rights

While the text lacks legal force, its integration into a broader human rights framework lends it considerable political weight. The objective is clear: to keep the situation in the Sahel in the international spotlight , despite the region's deteriorating security situation.

Niamey's reaction was swift. The Nigerien Foreign Minister summoned the EU chargé d'affaires to denounce "paternalistic interference." For the transitional authorities, the fate of the former president falls under national sovereignty, not a European dictate.

A divorce finalized?

This new crisis is taking place within a context of abrupt disruption:

1. End of 2023: Niger denounced its defense agreements with the EU, ending security missions on its soil.
2. Diplomatic tensions: Niamey regularly accuses European representatives of mismanagement of humanitarian funds.

Despite timid attempts at "normalization" in recent months, dialogue now seems to have completely broken down, transforming the detention of Mohamed Bazoum into a symbol of European impotence in the face of new Sahelian military transitions.