The deposed Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum has decided to take legal action in West Africa to obtain his release and the restoration of constitutional order in the country, almost two months after a coup d’état carried out by the military who overthrew him and still sequester him.
“We demand (…) in view of the violation of political rights, that the State of Niger be condemned to the immediate restoration of constitutional order by the handover of power to President Bazoum who must continue to exercise it until at the end of his mandate on April 2, 2026,” his Senegalese lawyer, Maître Seydou Diagne, told AFP on Wednesday.
The petition filed before the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on September 18 cites the “arbitrary arrest” and “violation of the freedom to come and go” of President Mohamed Bazoum, his wife Haziza and his son Salem, detained with him at the presidential palace since the coup on July 26.
According to Maître Diagne, his “clients are victims of serious and intolerable human rights violations. They have the right to refer the matter to the competent courts. This cannot aggravate their situation, it is a reason for hope that justice will be provided to them. be returned.”
In the event of a favorable decision, “the State of Niger has the legal obligation to execute the decision”, he assured.
“What interests us is to obtain a condemnation of the State of Niger by a court decision. Mr. Bazoum’s fight is a fight through the law,” he stressed.
Master Seydou Diagne also affirmed that “General (Abdourahamane) Tiani (at the head of the military regime, editor’s note) is not authorized by Nigerien law to carry out arrests. He was appointed by decree since 2011 to ensure the security of the president.
The organization’s Court of Justice is the main jurisdiction of ECOWAS, composed of 5 judges chosen from among the nationals of member states.
In mid-August, the authors of the coup announced their intention to “pursue” Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” and “endangering the security” of the country.
ECOWAS has been threatening the perpetrators of the coup with military intervention since July 30 to restore constitutional order.
She had announced that the day and modalities of the operation had been decided, prioritizing however the diplomatic route, but now remains relatively silent, although supported by several Western countries.
The European Union (EU) reiterated on Wednesday its “support for the position of ECOWAS”, calling once again “for the immediate and unconditional release of President Bazoum and his family”, and “does not recognize the authorities from putsch”, Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, told AFP.
Comments declared the day after a summons of the EU ambassador in Niamey, Salvador Pinto da França, by the Prime Minister of Niger appointed by the military in power, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine.
ECOWAS is also supported by France, engaged in a standoff with the military regime.
At the beginning of August, Paris suspended the issuance of visas to Niamey – also suspended to Ouagadougou (Burkina) and Bamako (Mali) – to enter its territory.
Paris also refuses the return to France of its ambassador to Niamey, Sylvain Itté, “taken hostage” according to Emmanuel Macron, and whose expulsion was ordered by the generals in power at the end of August.
France has some 1,500 soldiers in Niger, whose future is uncertain.
The military regime, which plans a transition lasting a maximum of three years, is looking for allies.
He turns in particular to neighboring Mali and Burkina, also led by soldiers who came to power through a coup d’état, with whom he launched defense cooperation on Saturday, with the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States ( AES).
21/09/2023 05:21:12 – Niamey (Niger) (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
