Kidnapped since the military coup in Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s president, is in a state of health that is of concern to the European Union and neighboring African countries. In an interview with European Council President Charles Michel, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu warned that any “further deterioration” in Mohamed Bazoum’s condition would have “serious consequences”, according to an EU official ( which had initially mistakenly attributed this sentence to Mr. Michel).
“President Bazoum’s conditions of detention are deteriorating. Any further deterioration in his health will have serious consequences,” said Tinubu, who currently chairs the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The European Union is closely monitoring the situation in Niger and has already suspended its budgetary aid and its cooperation programs in the security field. Germany also asked, Thursday, August 17, that the EU take “sanctions against the putschists”.
Furthermore, Charles Michel “reiterated the support and full support of the EU for the decisions of ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States], as well as the firm condemnation of the unacceptable coup de force in Nigeria”. “The EU will not recognize the authorities resulting from the putsch,” he insisted.
The West African regional organization adopted sanctions (suspension of financial transactions with Niger and freezing of all service transactions, including the transfer of electricity) to put pressure on those responsible for the military coup in Niamey.
