The deposed Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum has taken legal action in West Africa to obtain his release and the restoration of constitutional order in the country, after the coup d’état which overthrew him on July 26, announced Wednesday to the AFP his Senegalese lawyer, Seydou Diagne.
“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 term on April 2, 2026,” he said.
The petition filed before the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on September 18 invokes the “arbitrary arrest” and “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.
“Human rights violations”
According to Maître 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 make their situation worse, it is a reason for hope that justice will be done to them.”
In the event of a favorable decision, “the State of Niger has (will) 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.
Maître Seydou Diagne affirmed that “General Tiani is not authorized by Nigerien law to make arrests. He has been appointed by decree since 2011 to ensure the security of the president.
The military regime is under threat of military intervention from ECOWAS to restore constitutional order. The organization’s Court of Justice is its main jurisdiction, composed of 5 judges chosen from among the nationals of member states.