At last, ousted Niger President Bazoum visited by his doctor

The ousted Niger President, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been illegally detained by the coup leaders led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani since July was seen by his doctor on Saturday.

It was learnt that the physician also brought food for Bazoum, his wife and son who are being held with him.

A member of his entourage told AFP, the ousted president “had a visit by his doctor today.

“He’s fine, given the situation.”

Concerns had been raised over the health and detention conditions of Bazoum, his wife and 20-year-old son since the military seized power and took them captive on July 26.

The European Union and the African Union have joined others in condemning the overthrow of Bazoum and subsequent detention by the country’s military.

The UN rights chief Volker Turk said Bazoum’s reported detention conditions “could amount to inhuman and degrading treatment, in violation of international human rights law”.

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken said he was “dismayed” by the military’s refusal to release Bazoum’s family as a “demonstration of goodwill”. Punch