NIGER JUNTA TO PROSECUTES MUHAMMED BAZUM FOR “HIGH TREASON”

Mon 14 August 2023:

Hours after a group of prominent Islamic scholars indicated the country’s coup leaders are open to talks to resolve their impasse with West Africa’s regional union, the military of Niger said it will prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for treason.

The military of Niger accused Bazoum of “high treason” and “undermining the internal and external security” of the nation in a statement read out on national television late on Sunday.

The statement conveyed that the Nijer government has gathered the necessary evidence for the prosecution of the ousted president and his domestic and foreign accomplices on charges of “treason against the nation” and “endangering internal and external security” before national and international bodies.

The statement highlighted the dissemination of false information by certain West African political figures linked to lobbying groups concerning the “transitional government,” condemning such actions vehemently.

Furthermore, the statement expressed dissatisfaction with certain elements within the international community for showing solidarity with the “deposed government officials.”

Concerns over Bazoum’s health

The spokesman for Niger’s military, Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, in his statement on Sunday, dismissed concerns over Bazoum’s health, saying the deposed leader had seen his doctor the previous day.

“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 went on to slam ECOWAS sanctions on Niger, saying the “illegal, inhumane and humiliating” measures were making it difficult for people to access medicines, food and electricity.

The statement came just hours after a group of Nigerian Islamic scholars announced a meeting with Niger’s coup leader Abdourahamane Tchiani in Niamey and said the general had agreed to hold “direct talks” with ECOWAS.

Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, who led the Nigerian delegation, told Al Jazeera their mission to Niamey was aimed at creating an “avenue whereby the leaders of the junta coup in Niger will have a dialogue with the ECOWAS leaders to understand each other”.

During their meeting, Tchiani “accepted to have fully direct discussions with the leaders of ECOWAS”, he said.

The Muslim scholars visited Niamey with the blessing of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who also heads ECOWAS.

Niger Coup

President Muhammed Bazum was detained by elements of the Presidential Guard Regiment on July 26th, and later that evening, the military announced its takeover.

On July 28th, Commander of the Presidential Guard Regiment, General Abdurrahmane Tchiani, assumed leadership of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy (CNSP) and took charge of the transitional government.

On August 9th, the CNSP appointed Lamine Zeine as prime minister and announced a 21-member cabinet composed of both military personnel and civilians the following day.

Many Western countries, who saw Niamey as a partner in the Sahel region with whom they could cooperate to quell a spreading revolt by organizations affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS), consider the coup in Niger to be a huge setback.

Together with other European nations, the United States and France have stationed more than 2,500 military soldiers in the area and spent hundreds of millions of dollars on military assistance and training for the Nigerian military.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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