Niger coup: President Mohamed Bazoum 'in good spirits' despite detention

Niger's president is successful "good spirits" contempt being held successful "difficult" conditions by the junta that deposed him, his doc has said aft a visit.

Mohamed Bazoum, his lad and woman person been held successful the basement of his palace successful Niamey since the coup connected 26 July.

"Living conditions stay difficult, with the energy inactive chopped off," the doc was reported arsenic saying by French nationalist vigor presumption RFI.

The sojourn was approved amid increasing planetary demands for his release.

RFI said it was the archetypal extracurricular interaction the president had had since helium was overthrown.

Mr Bazoum, 63, is reported to person mislaid a "worrying" magnitude of weight, portion his son, 20, who has a chronic aesculapian condition, was besides reportedly denied care.

"The doc was capable to speech to the Head of State, arsenic good arsenic his woman and son," RFI reported. "All are well, helium said. The doc was besides capable to bring them nutrient and medicines."

"Following the visit, President Bazoum's household said they were relieved," the vigor presumption added.

The determination by the junta, led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, to bring successful the family's doc appears to beryllium successful effect to wide condemnation of the president's detention since the coup.

His girl Zazia, 34, who was connected vacation successful France during the coup, told The Guardian this week that her father, parent and member had nary cleanable h2o oregon energy and were surviving connected atom and pasta.

Fresh nutrient was rotting successful the fridge due to the fact that determination was nary power, she said.

"The concern of my household is precise hard currently," she told the newspaper. "They accidental they volition support fighting, but it's hard to spot our household successful this concern and they can't spell out."

The Niger subject overthrew the democratically elected president successful a coup connected 26 July.

It mirrored akin subject takeovers successful neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, amid an Islamist insurgency and a increasing Russian power successful the wider Sahel portion done its mercenary radical Wagner.

Despite his captivity, Mr Bazoum was capable to people an nonfiction successful The Washington Post stating that helium was a hostage and that the coup would person "devastating consequences for our country, our portion and the full world".

More than a week has passed since US President Joe Biden called for Mr Bazoum to beryllium "immediately released", and for the "preservation of Niger's hard-earned democracy".

That followed the expiration of a deadline by Ecowas, a powerfulness bloc of West African states, for the coup leaders to basal down.

Threats of subject involution were not followed done by the bloc, and the junta continues to disregard demands for the president's freedom.