Son of ousted president of Niger set free by military junta

The son of the former president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was let go by a military court after being in jail for over five months.

Salem Bazoum went to Togo after presidents from nearby countries helped him get released.

He was taken to the president’s palace with his parents after the military took control in July.

His parents are still in jail, and the government has not agreed to let them go despite pressure from other countries.

The military court said that Mr Bazoum Jnr’s release is not final. He will have to go to court when he is asked to.

He was accused of helping to overthrow the government after the coup.

In October, the ruling military group claimed that the removed president and his family, along with two cooks and two security officials, tried to run away but did not succeed.

Togo’s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey went to Niger to help Mr. Bazoum Jnr leave the country, according to the tribunal’s statement.

Togo’s government said he is free, but did not say where he is.

Sierra Leone also tried to help get the ousted president’s son released, the statement said.

The Ecowas court said the Bazoum family’s arrest was unfair. They were told to go free, and Mr Bazoum was put back as president.

The military group has not followed the decision and has said that it will take up to three years for civilians to take over.

Gen Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of the presidential bodyguard, took control from Mr Bazoum in a coup. Ecowas and Western nations, including France, criticized the takeover.

The French soldiers left Niger last month because the junta told them to go.

Ecowas said it will keep punishing Niger until it sees the country making progress towards having a civilian government again.

The penalties have made food more expensive and there aren’t enough basic things in Niger anymore.