Niger coup leaders say they will prosecute deposed president for ‘high treason’
14 August 2023, 07:24
The announcement came hours after they said they were open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the mounting regional crisis.
Niger’s mutinous soldiers have said they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state security, hours after they said they were open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the mounting regional crisis.
The announcement on state television on Sunday night, by spokesman Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, said the military regime has “gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of Niger”.
Mr Bazoum, Niger’s democratically elected president, was ousted by members of his presidential guard on July 26 and has since been under house arrest with his wife and son in the presidential compound in the capital, Niamey.
People close to the president, as well as those in his ruling party, say their electricity and water have been cut off and they are running out of food.
The junta dismissed these reports on Sunday night and accused West African politicians and international partners of fuelling a disinformation campaign to discredit the junta.
International pressure is growing on the junta to release and reinstate Mr Bazoum.
Immediately after the coup, the West African regional bloc Ecowas gave the regime seven days to return him to power or threatened military force, but that deadline came and went with no action from either side.
Last week, Ecowas ordered the deployment of a “stand-by” force, but it is still unclear when or if it will enter the country.
