Ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum might face trial for “high treason” after the nation’s navy junta vowed to prosecute him late Sunday.
The navy regime additionally slammed the sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is but to rule out utilizing pressure towards the military officers who toppled the democratically elected Bazoum on July 26.
The West African bloc has authorized the deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger as quickly as attainable however stays dedicated to discovering a diplomatic resolution to the disaster.
Niger’s navy leaders mentioned they’d prosecute Bazoum “for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger,” in accordance with an announcement learn out by Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane on nationwide tv.
Bazoum, 63, and his household have been held on the president’s official Niamey residence because the coup, with worldwide concern mounting over his circumstances in detention.
A member of his entourage mentioned he noticed his physician on Saturday.
“After this visit, the doctor raised no problems regarding the state of health of the deposed president and members of his family,” the navy mentioned.
They additionally mentioned sanctions imposed on Niger had made it tough for individuals to entry medicines, meals and electrical energy, and have been “illegal, inhumane and humiliating.”
‘Open to diplomacy’
The feedback got here simply hours after spiritual mediators met with coup chief Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, who indicated his regime was open to a diplomatic breakthrough.
Tiani “said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter,” mentioned Sheikh Bala Lau, a day after his Nigerian Muslim delegation held talks within the capital Niamey.
Tiani “claimed the coup was well intended” and that the plotters “struck to stave off an imminent threat that would have affected” Nigeria in addition to Niger, in accordance with Lau’s assertion.
But Tiani mentioned it was “painful” that ECOWAS had issued an ultimatum to revive Bazoum with out listening to “their side of the matter,” the assertion added.
The Muslim leaders visited Niamey with the blessing of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who can be head of ECOWAS.
Tinubu has adopted a agency stance towards the coup, the sixth to hit an ECOWAS member state since 2020.
The bloc has severed monetary transactions and electrical energy provides and closed borders with landlocked Niger, blocking much-needed imports to one of many world’s poorest nations.
On July 30, it issued a seven-day ultimatum to revive Bazoum or face the potential use of pressure, however the deadline expired with out the brand new rulers backing down.
The bloc scrapped a Saturday disaster assembly on the coup resulting from be held in Ghana’s capital Accra for “technical reasons.”
Demonstrations in favor of the brand new navy rulers have develop into a standard sight in Niamey.
Thousands of individuals attended live shows Sunday on the Seyni Kountche Stadium in assist of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), the generals who’ve taken energy.
The crowd, primarily made up of younger individuals, brandished the flags of Niger in addition to these of Burkina Faso, Mali and Russia.
The prospect of a navy intervention to reinstate Bazoum has divided ECOWAS members and drawn warnings from international powers together with Russia and Algeria.
Niger’s neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, additionally dominated by navy governments who seized energy in coups, have mentioned that an intervention can be tantamount to a declaration of warfare on them.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
