Opposition urges EU to respect Niger’s internal dialogue on Bazoum release

An opposition figure in Niger, Oumar Moctar Alansary, has urged the European Union to respect the country’s internal political processes regarding the detention of former President Mohamed Bazoum.

Alansary, a founding member of the Democratic and Republican Renewal Party (RDR Tchanji), said the issue should be addressed through national dialogue and consensus among Nigeriens rather than through external pressure.

In a statement, he described Bazoum’s detention following the 2023 Niger coup d’état as primarily an internal matter for the country’s authorities to handle.

According to him, a peaceful resolution achieved through dialogue would strengthen national unity, preserve the dignity of all parties involved and allow the country to focus on pressing security challenges.

Alansary noted that Bazoum’s constitutional tenure is expected to end on April 2, 2026, adding that the transitional authorities might be cautious about an immediate release due to the former president’s refusal to resign after the coup and the ongoing debate over the legitimacy of his election.

He said the political tensions surrounding Bazoum’s electoral victory had contributed to institutional instability in the country.

“Support for endogenous solutions, through inclusive national dialogue involving all political and social stakeholders, would be a more constructive contribution to resolving the crisis,” Alansary said.

He also criticised the near-unanimous vote by the European Parliament on March 12, 2026, which called for Bazoum’s immediate release.

According to him, the strong consensus among European lawmakers contrasts with divisions within the European Union on other major issues such as migration, financial planning and support for Ukraine.

Alansary urged international partners to support Niger’s internal political processes without prescribing solutions, stressing the need for national unity, effective sovereignty and locally driven approaches as the country faces regional security threats and rising calls for self-determination across the Sahel.

The RDR Tchanji party, which had earlier raised concerns over alleged irregularities in Bazoum’s election, continues to advocate dialogue and consensus as the preferred path to resolving Niger’s political crisis.

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Tension as Soldiers Confront Security Personnel at Zamfara Police Headquarters

There was brief tension at the Zamfara State Police Command headquarters in Gusau after a group of soldiers reportedly confronted security personnel on duty following a disagreement that began at a nearby market.

Security sources said the incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. on March 13 when about 20 soldiers approached the main gate of the police headquarters.

According to the sources, the confrontation stemmed from a misunderstanding involving a visiting officer of the Police Mobile Force that reportedly started earlier at Mami Market, located close to the command headquarters.

The situation nearly escalated when the soldiers arrived at the gate, but the presence of additional security personnel discouraged further confrontation and the soldiers later withdrew from the area.

During the incident, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Hamman Titus, attached to the Counter Terrorism Unit Base 18 in Gusau, reportedly sustained minor injuries to his hand.

Authorities said the situation was quickly brought under control and normalcy has since been restored in the area.

Military authorities have been contacted to facilitate a joint investigation into the incident in order to resolve the misunderstanding and prevent a recurrence.