2023-09-21 02:29:37
The deposed Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum decided, Wednesday, September 20, 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 ask (…), 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 the end of his mandate on April 2, 2026 »his Senegalese lawyer, Me Seydou Diagne, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The petition filed before the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on September 18 invokes “arbitrary arrest” et “the 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 d’état on July 26. According to Me Diagne, his “clients are victims of serious and intolerable human rights violations. They have the right to refer the matter to the competent courts. It cannot worsen their situation, it is a reason for hope that justice will be done to them”.
In the event of a favorable decision, “Niger State [aura] the legal obligation to execute the decision »he assured. “What interests us is to obtain a conviction of the State of Niger by a court decision. Mr. Bazoum’s fight is a fight through the law”, he stressed. Me Diagne also affirmed that ” the general [Abdourahamane] Tiana [à la tête du régime militaire] is not authorized by Nigerien law to make arrests. He was appointed by decree since 2011 to ensure the security of the president”.
In mid-August, the authors of the coup d’état had for their part announced their intention to ” pursue “ Mohamed Bazoum for ” high treason “ et “security breach” from the country.
ECOWAS relatively silent
The organization’s Court of Justice is the main jurisdiction of ECOWAS, composed of 5 judges chosen from among the nationals of member states. 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) on Wednesday recalled its “support for ECOWAS position”calling once again “to the immediate and unconditional release of President Bazoum and his family”et “does not recognize the authorities resulting from the putsch”, Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, told AFP. Comments made 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 in Niamey – also suspended in 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 at the end of August by the generals in power.
Read also: France denies preparing a military intervention in Niger with ECOWAS
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, with whom he launched defense cooperation on Saturday, with the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States.
#Mohamed #Bazoum #refers #matter #ECOWAS #Court #Justice