ECOWAS COURT ORDERS REINSTATEMENT OF NIGER’S OUSTED BAZOUM

Fri 15 December 2023:

A West African court has ruled that the ousted president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, and his family have been arbitrarily detained and called for his reinstatement.

Bazoum was overthrown by members of his presidential guard on July 26 and has been detained at home with his wife and child since.

The coup was widely condemned and prompted sanctions from West Africa’s main political and economic bloc, the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), amid widespread calls for a return to democratic rule.

On Friday, the ECOWAS Court of Justice sitting in Abuja ordered Niger’s military government to re-establish constitutional order through Bazoum’s reinstatement. The judge, Gberi-Be Ouattara, called for his immediate and unconditional release.

According to his lawyer Seydou Diagne, Bazoum filed a lawsuit before the court on September 16 to free him.

The Nigerien military government also filed a suit before the court in November to order the lifting of the sanctions imposed on the country by ECOWAS. The request was denied.

At a recent summit in Abuja, Nigeria, West African leaders from regional bloc ECOWAS agreed to negotiate with Niger for a “short transition” period to democratic rule – promising to progressively ease economic and political bans upon successful dialogue.

Niger’s military has proposed a three-year transition period. ECOWAS wants a shorter transition and has set up a three-person committee, composed of the presidents of Togo, Sierra Leone and Benin, to negotiate with Niger’s military government.

During this week’s summit, the fourth in six months, West African leaders also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of ousted Nigerien President Mohammed Bazoum.

This week’s summit marked the first time the regional bloc has recognized the coup administration in Niger – dashing hopes of an immediate reinstatement of Bazoum.

Senior military men in Niger in July overthrew Bazoum and have detained him for alleged treason. In response, ECOWAS imposed heavy sanctions on Niger. ECOWAS ordered border closures, freezing of assets, trade restrictions and threatened a military invasion of Niger.

ECOWAS said it would ease sanctions against Niger if the junta agreed to the bloc’s demands.

West and Central Africa have recorded eight coups d’etat since 2020.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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