Libya releases leader of armed group in Niger after a year of detention
Ahmed Salem
An armed group in Niger, loyal to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, announced on Monday the release of its leader, who had been arrested in Libya in February 2025, meaning he had been held for more than a year.
The National Liberation Front was founded one month after the military coup that ousted Bazoum in July 2023, the president who came to power through democratic elections.
Since then, Bazoum and his wife have remained detained inside one of the wings of the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey, following the military council's takeover of power.
The leader of the Front was arrested
The Libyan National Army (LNA) arrested the leader of the group, Mahmoud Salah, in late February 2025 during a raid in the southern Libyan city of Qatrun. The LNA is led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who controls most of eastern and southern Libya, bordering Niger.
In a statement published on social media, the Front announced to its fighters and supporters the release of Salah, expressing its gratitude to Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan forces and son of Khalifa Haftar, for his role in securing this outcome. At the same time, it noted that 14 of its members remain in detention and called for their release.
Saddam Haftar had visited Niamey in May 2025, where he met with the head of the military council, General Abdul Rahman Tiani.
It is worth noting that Niger and Libya share a border of approximately 342 kilometers, across which groups opposed to the military council in Niger are active.
The National Liberation Front has claimed responsibility on several occasions for attacks targeting the Nigerien army in the northern regions, as well as acts of sabotage targeting an oil pipeline that reaches Benin.
