Niger's military government has announced it will prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for "treason" and "undermining the security" of the country.
"The government of Niger has collected evidence to prosecute the deposed president and his domestic and foreign accomplices before competent national and international bodies for treason and undermining security inside and outside Niger," Colonel Amadou Abdramane, representative of the Niger military government, said in a televised statement on the evening of August 13.
Colonel Abdramane also called the sanctions imposed on Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) "illegal, inhumane and humiliating", adding that people were being deprived of medicine, food and electricity.
Niger President Mohamed Bazoum in Niamey in May 2022. Photo: AFP
Earlier, Niger's military government was said to have told US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland during her visit to the country that they could kill President Bazoum if there was military intervention.
On July 26, Niger's presidential guard under the command of General Abdourahamane Tiani staged a coup, overthrowing President Bazoum. General Tiani then headed the military government.
The coup group announced the formation of a new government on August 10, appointing a prime minister and ministers. Salifou Modi and Mohamed Toumba, the two generals who led the coup, were appointed defense and interior ministers.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided on August 10 to activate its standing force and possibly deploy it to Niger to restore constitutional order in the country. The bloc also pledged to impose sanctions, travel bans and asset freezes on individuals who obstruct the process of returning power to Mr. Bazoum.
The ousted president of Niger has not been seen in public since the coup in late July. His PNDS-Tarayya party said he and his family were living without electricity, running water and running low on food.
However, an assistant to President Bazoum said on August 12 that he had been seen by a doctor and given food supplies, and that his health was still stable.
Vu Hoang (According to AFP, Reuters )
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