2023-08-19 12:03:46
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed his concern on Friday about the decision announced by the coup leaders in Niger to prosecute the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, for the crime of “high treason”. Under the Nigerian Penal Code, Bazoum would face the death penalty if convicted.
“This decision is not only politically motivated against a democratically elected president, but it has no legal basis, since the normal functioning of democratic institutions has been set aside,” Türk, who urged the coup military junta, said in the power since July 26, to free the president and restore democracy in the African country “immediately.”
The United Nations official stated that the Bazoum case is part of a “recent pattern of unconstitutional changes” by the military forces in West African countries and that directly affect the local population. “The generals cannot take responsibility for defying the will of the people at will,” Türk asserted.
“Serious consequences”
For his part, the president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, warned the coup leaders that there would be “serious consequences” if Bazoum’s state of health is affected. “President Bazoum’s detention conditions are deteriorating. Any further deterioration in his state of health will have serious consequences, ”Tinubu said, during a telephone conversation with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
Michel, meanwhile, expressed the “full support” of the European Union (EU) for the measures and sanctions being adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (Cedeao) in the face of the coup. “The EU will not recognize the authorities resulting from the coup. Democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum remains Niger’s legitimate head of state,” he added.
Fuente: dw.com
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