After Almost a Year Behind Bars, Niger Frees Ex-Petroleum Minister

Family members and close acquaintances reported on Tuesday that Mahaman Moustapha Barke, the former minister of petroleum for Niger, had been freed from detention nearly a year after being arrested by the nation’s military rulers.
Barke regained his release earlier in the day, according to a relative who spoke on condition of anonymity for security concerns. According to the Daily Post, a former minister’s assistant independently confirmed the news.

After the coup that overthrew the civilian administration just weeks earlier in 2023, Barke was named petroleum minister by Niger’s new military rulers. Later on, he was taken into custody for reasons that were never made public.

Since the military command has not released a statement on the subject, neither the grounds for his incarceration nor the terms of his release have been made public.

Human rights organizations have consistently criticized Niger’s junta for allegedly suppressing journalists, political rivals, and other dissident voices since seizing control.

In the meantime, Hamadou Tinni was named the new Minister of Petroleum by authorities on Tuesday. He takes over for Sahabi Oumarou, who took over in 2024 after Barke was fired.