The former President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted in a military coup on July 26, has appealed to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court for assistance in securing his release. Bazoum’s counsel, Seydou Diagne, made this announcement.
Recall that military officers took control of Niger and detained Bazoum at home along with his wife and child.
Bazoum’s lawyer on Wednesday noted that he filed a lawsuit with a court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on September 18.
Diagne said, “The lawsuit invokes his “arbitrary arrest” and “violation of freedom of movement.
“We request in view of the violation of political rights, that the State of Niger be ordered to immediately restore constitutional order by handing over power to President Bazoum, who must continue to exercise it until the end of his mandate.”
As well as slapping hefty sanctions against Niger, ECOWAS has warned that it could intervene militarily in Niger if diplomatic efforts to return Bazoum to power fail.
If the court rules in favour of Bazoum, “Niger has the legal obligation to execute the decision”, Diagne said.
Niger’s coup leaders have declared their intention to “prosecute” the democratically elected Bazoum for “high treason and undermining internal and external security”.
On Wednesday the European Union (EU) reiterated its support for ECOWAS’s position and made a fresh call “for the immediate and unconditional release” of Bazoum and his family.
EU foreign affairs spokeswoman, Nabila Massrali said, “The EU position is clear and unchanged: the EU does not recognize authorities emanating from the putsch. President Bazoum remains the sole legitimate president of Niger.”