Information coming from Niamey states that, the military administration of Niger is willing to put the deposed President, Mohammed Bazoum on trial for violating the security of the country.
According to a press release by the spokesman to the military junta, Mohammed Bazoum’s charges are tantamount to “high treason and undermining the internal and external security of the country.”
Other sources revealed that, the charges against Bazoum would likely “increase tensions between Niger’s military and the international community.”
“This statement is an indication the military isn’t about to let Bazoum go. The charges they’ve announced could result in very serious repercussions for Bazoum. This could be an attempt by the military to further strengthen their hand in future negotiations.”
Sources.
The announcement followed a meeting between the Military heads and Muslim clerics delegation from Nigeria, to discuss the possible way out between ECOWAS and Niamey, rather than resorting to gun violence to resolving the impending diplomatic stand off between the bloc and its member.
According to the leader of the Islamic clerics from Nigeria, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, the motive of the meeting was to establish “venue whereby the leaders of the junta coup in Niger will have a dialogue with the leaders of ECOWAS to understand each other.”
He further said, Tchiani consented to hold a direct negotiations with leaders of ECOWAS. However, Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria and Chairman of ECOWAS has in may statements denounced the coup.
President Bazoum and his family have been under severe security monitoring in the Presidential villa, since he was ousted from power on July 26. On the other hand, international organizations have made allegations over a bad treatments given to the former President.
However, the communications officer for the junta, Amadou Abdramane stated in a press release that, the international bodies allegations of mistreatment are false, and that, the health issues of the Mohammed Bazoum shouldn’t worry the public, because they have assigned a doctor to him.
“After this visit, the doctor raised no problems regarding the state of health of the deposed president and members of his family.”
Amadou Abdramane, Spokesman for Niger Military Administration.
The spokesman additionally criticized the economic sanction imposed by ECOWAS, and labelled them “illegal, inhumane, and humiliating,” to the image of the bloc. He further claimed that, the restrictions have rendered Nigeriens to live without electricity, food, and medicine.
Also, the EU has cut off energy and financial services and blocked its borders with landlocked Niger, preventing one of the world’s poorest nations from receiving imports that it desperately needs.
To improve negotiations and also as a sign of good fate, ECOWAS previously demanded the release of President Bazoum, or risk the use of forceful intervention to restore normalcy in Niger. Nevertheless the West Africa bloc refrained from using force, after the August 6 deadline expired.
In other developments, the military administration of Niger dispatched entourage to Guinea Conakry, to express their appreciation to the military government, for their unweaving support since the coup unfolded.
According to the leader of the delegation, and Defense Minister of Niger, General Moussa Salaou Barmou, the trip was meant to strengthen the ties between the two nations.
During the meeting, Mamady Doumbouya stated that, “we are Pan-African, when our people have problems, we are always present and we will always be there.”
Moreover, Western nations have raised concerns over defeating the prevalence of armed organizations linked with terrorist groups, as the association between the Niamey and Western authorities has fallen out, since the coup took place on July 26.
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