The coup disaster in Niger deepened Friday amid rising considerations for the detained president and warnings of army intervention from West African leaders.
The European Union and African Union joined the United States and different voices in sounding the alarm for democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted by members of his guard on July 26.
“Bazoum and his family, according to the latest information, have been deprived of food, electricity and medical care for several days,” mentioned EU international coverage chief Josep Borrell, calling for the chief’s speedy restoration to workplace.
The AU echoed the priority, saying “such treatment of a democratically elected president” was “unacceptable.”
A supply near Bazoum mentioned “he’s OK, but the conditions are very difficult,” including that the coup leaders had brandished the specter of assaulting him within the occasion of army intervention.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) mentioned it had spoken to Bazoum, his physician, his household lawyer, a former communications advisor and a household pal on Wednesday and Thursday.
Bazoum, 63, described the remedy of him, his spouse and their 20-year-old son as “inhuman and cruel,” HRW mentioned.
“I haven’t had electricity since August 2 and no human contact since August 4. I’m not allowed to receive my family members (or) my friends who have been bringing food and other supplies to us,” the group quoted him as saying.
Without energy, the household has been pressured to eat solely dry meals, and nothing contemporary, Bazoum reportedly mentioned.
“My son is sick, has a serious heart condition, and needs to see a doctor,” he was quoted as saying. “They’ve refused to let him get medical treatment.”
Intervention warning
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara on Thursday mentioned the Nigerien army “are holding President Bazoum hostage. I personally think that it’s a terrorist act.”
Ouattara was talking on the sidelines of an emergency summit within the Nigerian capital Abuja of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Under stress to stem a cascade of coups amongst its members, the bloc authorised the deployment of what it known as a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger.
The leaders didn’t present any particulars on the power or any timetable for motion, and likewise emphasised that they nonetheless needed a peaceable answer.
Before the closed-door talks, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu – a hardliner within the disaster – confused “we prioritise diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the bedrock of our approach.”
ECOWAS had beforehand issued a seven-day ultimatum to the coup leaders to return Bazoum to energy.
But the regime defied the deadline, which expired on Sunday with none motion being taken.
Troubled area
ECOWAS includes 15 nations, with Nigeria – West Africa’s most populous nation and financial powerhouse – probably the most highly effective voice.
Since 1990, the bloc has intervened amongst six of its members at instances of civil warfare, riot or political turmoil.
But the opportunity of intervention in deeply fragile Niger has sparked debate inside its ranks and warnings from neighboring Algeria in addition to Russia.
ECOWAS members Mali and Burkina Faso, each dominated by army governments that seized energy in coups, have warned an intervention could be a “declaration of war” on their international locations.
Those two international locations, together with Guinea, weren’t represented on the Abuja summit, nor had been Niger’s coup leaders.
Countries within the western Sahel – an arid area on the fringes of the Sahel – are among the many poorest and most turbulent nations on this planet.
The newest coup is Niger’s fifth because the landlocked nation gained independence from France.
Like Mali and Burkina Faso, the nation is combating a brutal terrorist insurgency that has claimed hundreds of lives, pressured many individuals from their houses and undermined religion in authorities.
Niger has the misfortune of going through a double terrorist insurgency, each in its southwest and likewise from militants crossing into the southeast.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
