The Leader of the military coup in Niger Republic has officially declared their intention to prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum on charges of “high treason and undermining the internal and external security” of the nation.
The 63-year-old former president, who has been under house arrest since the coup on July 26, resides at the official presidential residence.
On Sunday, a spokesperson for the junta, Amadou Abdramane, delivered a statement on national television outlining the junta’s stance on Bazoum’s legal status. Abdramane revealed that Bazoum had been granted medical care and had undergone a health assessment by his doctors the previous day, with reports confirming his overall well-being.
“The doctor’s assessment found no health concerns regarding the deposed president and his family members after the visit,” Abdramane stated. He also revealed that the Nigerien government had amassed substantial evidence to support the prosecution of Bazoum, along with his local and foreign collaborators, before national and international judicial authorities.
Emphasizing the gravity of the charges, Abdramane stated, “The Nigerien government has to date, gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international authorities for high treason and undermining internal and external security of Niger.”
Seeking to address the diplomatic fallout resulting from the coup and subsequent economic sanctions, the military junta expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue with international stakeholders.
The junta extended an invitation for dialogue and peaceful resolution to an Islamic delegation from neighboring Nigeria, indicating its commitment to finding a way forward amidst growing regional concerns.
Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, recently appointed as Niger’s prime minister by the junta, affirmed the junta’s intentions for diplomacy, stating, “We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue.” He further noted that the visiting delegation would relay the junta’s position to the Nigerian President, fostering hopes for productive discussions in the near future.
The ongoing economic sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have also taken center stage. The junta cited the severe impact of these sanctions on the well-being of Niger’s populace, particularly their access to essential resources. “They (Muslim delegation) will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us…. we hope in the coming days, ECOWAS will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted,” Zeine remarked.
Highlighting the challenges brought about by the sanctions, the junta emphasized their adverse effects on the availability of medicines, food, and electricity within the country. The dire situation spurred ECOWAS to recently resolve to deploy a standby force to Niger, with the goal of restoring constitutional order in the nation.
As the situation continues to evolve, regional and international stakeholders closely watch the unfolding developments in Niger, with hopes for a peaceful resolution to the crisis and the eventual reestablishment of stability and governance in the nation.
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