Niger’s mutinous troopers say they may prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for “excessive treason” and undermining state safety, hours after they stated they had been open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the mounting regional disaster
FILE – Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum smiles earlier than a working lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron, Feb. 16, 2023 on the Elysee Palace in Paris. Supporters of Niger’s deposed President Mohamed Bazoum have pleaded with the USA and others for weeks to revive the democratically elected chief to energy. Now they’re making an easier plea: Save his life. (AP Picture/Michel Euler, File)
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NIAMEY, Niger — Niger’s mutinous troopers say they may prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for “excessive treason” and undermining state safety, hours after they stated they had been open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the mounting regional disaster.
The announcement on state tv on Sunday night time, by spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, stated the army regime had “gathered the required proof to prosecute earlier than competent nationwide and worldwide authorities the ousted president and his native and overseas accomplices for prime treason and for undermining the interior and exterior safety of Niger.”
Bazoum, Niger’s democratically elected president, was ousted by members of his presidential guard on July 26 and has since been below home arrest together with his spouse and son within the presidential compound within the capital, Niamey.
Individuals near the president in addition to these in his ruling get together say their electrical energy and water have been minimize off they usually’re operating out of food. The junta dismissed these experiences Sunday night time and accused West African politicians and worldwide companions of fueling a disinformation marketing campaign to discredit the junta.
Worldwide stress is rising on the junta to launch and reinstate Bazoum. Instantly after the coup, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS gave the regime seven days to return him to energy or threatened army power, however that deadline got here and went with no motion from both aspect.
Final week, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a “standby” power, but it surely’s nonetheless unclear when or if it will enter the nation.
