Niger coup leaders vow to prosecute President Bazoum for ‘treason’

The military junta in Niger says it will prosecute President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” for his comments to foreign officials and organisations.

Soldiers detained President Bazoum on July 26 and their leader, Abdourahmane Tchiani, has run the country since then. He has ignored demands from regional bloc Ecowas to reinstate Mr Bazoum.

Mr Bazoum remained in touch with foreign heads of states, urging them to help restore democracy in his country. He wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Post making the same plea.

Last week, Ecowas activated its standby military force that could intervene if diplomacy ultimately fails.

Mr Tchiani met senior Islamic clerics from Nigeria on Saturday and agreed to explore a diplomatic solution with the bloc. He also reportedly apologized for refusing to see Ecowas’ previous delegations, including one led by former Nigerian military ruler, Abdulasalami Abubakar.

– “High treason”

Junta spokesperson Amadou Abdramane Abdramane said there was a “misinformation campaign” against the junta to try to “derail any negotiated solution to the crisis in order to justify military intervention … in the name of ECOWAS”.

He said in a statement on state TV late on Sunday that the military authorities had “gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the ousted president…for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger.”

He denied that Mr Bazoum was not allowed to see a doctor, saying the last visit was on August 12.

“After this visit the doctor raised no concerns about the state of health of the ousted president and members of his family,” Abdramane said.

Mr Bazoum’s political party said his family had no access to running water, fresh food or doctors. Mr Bazoum told Human Rights Watch that his son needed to see a doctor because of a serious heart condition.

– More talks

Ecowas is expected on Monday to push for more talks with the junta. The Peace and Security Council of the African Union is also expected to meet on Monday to discuss the situation in Niger.