Niger's military says it will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for treason, hours after a group of senior Islamic scholars said the country's coup leaders are open to diplomacy to resolve their standoff with West Africa's regional bloc.
In a statement read out on national television late last night, a military spokesperson laid out the charges against Bazoum as 'high treason and undermining the internal and external security' of the country.reports that the democratically elected leader and his family have been held at the president's official residence in Niamey since the 26 July coup, sparking a global outcry.
Ecowas has called for Bazoum's reinstatement, imposing severe economic sanctions on Niger and threatening military intervention if civilian rule is not restored. Al Jazeera reports that the West African bloc, which has approved the deployment of a 'standby force to restore constitutional order' in Niger, has said it remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
The spokesman for Niger's military, Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane has dismissed concerns over Bazoum's health, saying the deposed leader had seen his doctor on Saturday. 'After this visit, the doctor raised no problems regarding the state of health of the deposed President and members of his family,' he said.
Abdramane slammed the sanctions on Niger, saying the 'illegal, inhumane and humiliating' measures were making it difficult for people to access medicines, food and electricity.
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Niger Junta to Prosecute Detained President for TreasonNiger's junta is ready to consider a diplomatic solution to its stand-off with West African bloc ECOWAS, mediators said on Sunday August 13, 2023. Deutsche Welle reports that a group of senior Nigerian Islamic scholars met with coup leader General Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey and quoted him as saying that the junta's doors were "open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter." The discussion by the Nigerian scholars, led by Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, included an ECOWAS call for reinstating Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted in the July 26 coup. However, AFP is reporting that late on Sunday, the military regime said they would prosecute Bazoum for "high treason" and undermining the internal and external security of Niger. They also slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country. Bazoum has been detained since being ousted in a military coup on July 26. He received a medical visit on Saturday, reports Deutsche Welle. Bazoum's doctor told Radio France Internationale following the visit: "the president's morale is high." A member of Bazoum's entourage told Agence France-Presse: "He's fine, given the situation." The African Union had expressed its concern at the president's health and called for his "immediate" release. "The president of the Commission [of the African Union] calls for the immediate release of President Bazoum," Commission President Moussa Faki Mahamat said in a statement published on Friday. The European Union and the United Nations have also voiced concern, and the rights group Human Rights Watch called on coup leaders to ensure the safety and well-being of President Bazoum, his family, and others arbitrarily detained. ECOWAS said on Thursday that its forces were on "standby," as it mulled the option of intervening in Niger as the military junta named its new government.
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Niger coup: President Mohamed Bazoum 'in good spirits' despite detentionNiger's president is in 'good spirits' despite being held in 'difficult' conditions by the junta that deposed him, his doctor has said after a visit.
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Niger: Detained President Bazoum Seen By DoctorInternational organizations and leaders had condemned the conditions of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who was been held in his official residence by Niger's junta. Meanwhile, ECOWAS deferred a Saturday meeting.
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Niger coup: Ousted President Bazoum to be charged with high treason, junta saysCoup leaders accuse the detained Mohamed Bazoum of undermining national security.
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Concern Grows About Health of Detained Niger PresidentFollowing concerns expressed by human rights groups and others over the health and living conditions of President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger, who has been detained since being ousted in a military coup on July 26, he received a medical visit on Saturday, reports Deutsche Welle. Bazoum's doctor told Radio France Internationale following the visit: "the president's morale is high." A member of Bazoum's entourage told Agence France-Presse: "He's fine, given the situation." The African Union had expressed its concern at the president's health and called for his "immediate" release. "The president of the Commission [of the African Union] calls for the immediate release of President Bazoum," Commission President Moussa Faki Mahamat said in a statement published on Friday. The European Union and the United Nations had also voiced concern, and the rights group, Human Rights Watch, called on coup leaders to ensure the safety and well-being of President Bazoum, his family, and others arbitrarily detained. Moussa Faki also said that the AU supported the West African group of states, ECOWAS, in its dealing with the situation in Niger. ECOWAS said on Thursday that its forces were on "standby," as it mulled the option of intervening in Niger as the military junta named its new government.
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Niger generals vow to prosecute ousted president for ‘high treason’ - The Africa Report.comThe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the coup and has not ruled out using force against the army officers who toppled the democratically elected Bazoum on July 26.
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