Prosecuting Bazoum’ll contradict your acceptance of diplomacy, ECOWAS tells Gen. Tchiani
Prosecuting Bazoum’ll contradict your acceptance of diplomacy, ECOWAS tells Gen. Tchiani
…as Niger junta recalls envoy from Cote d’Ivoire
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has kicked against plans by the military junta in Niger to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
In a statement read out on national television on Sunday, Amadou Abdramane, spokesman of the junta, said Bazoum would be prosecuted for “high treason and undermining the internal and external security” of the country.
After a meeting on Saturday with Nigeria’s intervention team comprising Islamic scholars, Abdourahmane Tchiani, leader of the Niger junta, said the military was ready to explore diplomatic dialogue.
He added that it was painful that ECOWAS did not hear the junta’s side of the matter before issuing ultimatums.
Bazoum has been kept hostage at the president’s official residence since the July 26 coup.
The 63-year-old had reportedly lamented his living conditions, saying he was “deprived of all human contact” with no one supplying him with food or medicine.
The ousted president said all the perishable food he was supplied with had since gone bad and he is now forced to eat dry pasta and rice.
Giving an update on the junta’s activities, Abdramane said the president was granted access to his doctors the previous day, adding that he was in fine fettle.
“After this visit, the doctor raised no problems regarding the state of health of the deposed president and members of his family,” he said.
Abdramane also added that “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”.
Reacting to the development on Monday, ECOWAS said the move to prosecute Bazoum contradicted the reported willingness of the junta to restore constitutional order through peaceful means.
“ECOWAS has learnt with stupefaction attempts to bring charges of high treason against H.E. Mohamed BAZOUM, President of the Republic of Niger,” the statement reads.
“ECOWAS condemns this move as it represents yet another form of provocation and contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities in the Republic of Niger to restore constitutional order through peaceful means.
“President Bazoum remains the democratically-elected president of the Republic of Niger recognised by ECOWAS and the international community.
“ECOWAS condemns his illegal detention and calls for his immediate release and reinstatement.”
Meanwhile, the militaryders in Niger have recalled the country’s ambassador to Cote d’Ivoirel as the Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara said he would support the military intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The spokesman for the junta, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, said the ambassador had returned to Niamey for consultations, as the African continent follows the Niger crisis with keen interest.
In an address on national TV, Abdramane said Ouattara’s wish was to see illegal and senseless aggression against Niger enforced, RFI reported.
Outtara’s remarks came after he returned to Cote d’Ivoire from a summit in Nigeria where leaders of the 15-nation ECOWAS decided to activate the bloc’s standby force for a possible military response to the coup.
“The heads of state agreed to deploy troops from a number of countries, including Cote d’Ivoire,” said Outtara.
“Cote d’Ivoire will provide a battalion and has made all financial arrangements for the operation if it is to last three months,” he added.
“Provisions will be made at the budgetary level so that our soldiers and officers who will participate in this operation do not lack anything. So Cote d’Ivoire is ready.”
RFI said in the report that it is understood that Cote d’Ivoire would provide a battalion of between 850 and 1,100 troops.
On Sunday, General Abdourahamane Tiani-led junta said it intended to prosecute the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum for high treason and undermining state security. If convicted, Bazoum could face the death penalty, according to Niger’s penal code.
Abdramane said that the military regime had gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute Bazoum who was toppled on 26 July.
In a similar development to ECOWAS, leading politicians from across the continent met in Addis Ababa at the headquarters of the African Union to discuss the crisis in Niger on Monday.
They, however, have not issued any formal declarations but it is believed they will add their voice to the international pressure to release and reinstate Bazoum.
of diplomacy —ECOWAS
…as Niger junta recalls envoy from Cote d’Ivoire
Mohamed Bazoum, ousted Niger Republic
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has kicked against plans by the military junta in Niger to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
In a statement read out on national television on Sunday, Amadou Abdramane, spokesman of the junta, said Bazoum would be prosecuted for “high treason and undermining the internal and external security” of the country.
After a meeting on Saturday with Nigeria’s intervention team comprising Islamic scholars, Abdourahmane Tchiani, leader of the Niger junta, said the military was ready to explore diplomatic dialogue.
He added that it was painful that ECOWAS did not hear the junta’s side of the matter before issuing ultimatums.
Bazoum has been kept hostage at the president’s official residence since the July 26 coup.
The 63-year-old had reportedly lamented his living conditions, saying he was “deprived of all human contact” with no one supplying him with food or medicine.
The ousted president said all the perishable food he was supplied with had since gone bad and he is now forced to eat dry pasta and rice.
Giving an update on the junta’s activities, Abdramane said the president was granted access to his doctors the previous day, adding that he was in fine fettle.
“After this visit, the doctor raised no problems regarding the state of health of the deposed president and members of his family,” he said.
Abdramane also added that “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”.
Reacting to the development on Monday, ECOWAS said the move to prosecute Bazoum contradicted the reported willingness of the junta to restore constitutional order through peaceful means.
“ECOWAS has learnt with stupefaction attempts to bring charges of high treason against H.E. Mohamed BAZOUM, President of the Republic of Niger,” the statement reads.
“ECOWAS condemns this move as it represents yet another form of provocation and contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities in the Republic of Niger to restore constitutional order through peaceful means.
“President Bazoum remains the democratically-elected president of the Republic of Niger recognised by ECOWAS and the international community.
“ECOWAS condemns his illegal detention and calls for his immediate release and reinstatement.”
Meanwhile, the militaryders in Niger have recalled the country’s ambassador to Cote d’Ivoirel as the Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara said he would support the military intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The spokesman for the junta, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, said the ambassador had returned to Niamey for consultations, as the African continent follows the Niger crisis with keen interest.
In an address on national TV, Abdramane said Ouattara’s wish was to see illegal and senseless aggression against Niger enforced, RFI reported.
Outtara’s remarks came after he returned to Cote d’Ivoire from a summit in Nigeria where leaders of the 15-nation ECOWAS decided to activate the bloc’s standby force for a possible military response to the coup.
“The heads of state agreed to deploy troops from a number of countries, including Cote d’Ivoire,” said Outtara.
“Cote d’Ivoire will provide a battalion and has made all financial arrangements for the operation if it is to last three months,” he added.
“Provisions will be made at the budgetary level so that our soldiers and officers who will participate in this operation do not lack anything. So Cote d’Ivoire is ready.”
RFI said in the report that it is understood that Cote d’Ivoire would provide a battalion of between 850 and 1,100 troops.
On Sunday, General Abdourahamane Tiani-led junta said it intended to prosecute the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum for high treason and undermining state security. If convicted, Bazoum could face the death penalty, according to Niger’s penal code.
Abdramane said that the military regime had gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute Bazoum who was toppled on 26 July.
In a similar development to ECOWAS, leading politicians from across the continent met in Addis Ababa at the headquarters of the African Union to discuss the crisis in Niger on Monday.
They, however, have not issued any formal declarations but it is believed they will add their voice to the international pressure to release and reinstate Bazoum.
