West African countries opposed to coup denounce “new provocation” by military regime

The West African neighbors of Niger opposed to the coup d’etat denounced, Monday August 14, “a new challenge” of the military regime after his threat to sue for ” high treason “ the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum. On the same day, the new authorities assured that they would be able to ” overcome “ the sanctions imposed following the putsch, when the African Union (AU) announced to meet in Ethiopia.

On Sunday evening, the military regime claimed to have brought together the “evidence to prosecute before national and international authorities” Mr. Bazoum for ” high treason “ And “breach of security” from the country. He bases his accusations on his ” trades “ with some “national”of the “foreign heads of state”and “heads of international organizations”.

This approach “constitutes a new form of provocation and contradicts the desire attributed to the military authorities of the Republic of Niger to restore constitutional order by peaceful means”reacted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“We are extremely appalled by reports that it adds a notch to the unjust detention of President Bazoum”for its part, reacted the State Department in Washington, considering that this “will certainly not contribute to a peaceful resolution of this crisis”.

“The junta has no legitimacy to judge anyone”said Monday, Hassoumi Massaoudou, the Nigerian foreign minister of Mohamed Bazoum, in an interview with RFI and France 24. “What they have committed is more than treason it is a criminal act, they cannot have the moral pretension to judge anyone”he said, believing that “It’s completely absurd, surreal, to hear these people talk about prosecuting President Bazoum”.

“The speech that has been released in Niamey is racist speech, intolerance speech”he also said, adding: “We must stop this risk to the cohesion of our country, that’s why we must act quickly and put an end very quickly to what has just happened”.

Niamey ready to overcome sanctions

For his part, the prime minister appointed by the military regime in Niamey assured, on Monday, that Niger was able to ” overcome “ the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS following the coup.

“We believe that although this is an unfair challenge that has been imposed on us, we should be able to overcome it. And we will overcome it”told German state media Deutsche WelleAli Mahamane Lamine Zeine, as the AU announced to meet in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia

Nigeria and ECOWAS are important partners, he also assured: “We have a great interest in preserving this important and historic relationship and in ensuring that ECOWAS works first on purely economic issues”. However, he warns: “If we saw that the political and military principle comes to the fore, instead of this economic solidarity, it would be very regrettable. »

The military regime denounced on Sunday, in a press release, “the illegal, inhuman and humiliating sanctions of ECOWAS”taken at a summit of the organization, on July 30, during which a seven-day ultimatum was also set to restore constitutional order, under penalty of the use of force – not applied.

During this summit, the West African states announced, among other things, the suspension of financial and commercial transactions with Niger, which is economically and energetically dependent on foreign countries. These sanctions “go so far as to deprive the country of pharmaceutical products, foodstuffs” and of “supply of electric current”deplored the military in their press release read on national television.

Also on Monday, the Peace and Security Council, the body responsible for conflict and security issues within the AU, announced that it would hold a meeting in Addis Ababa to discuss “the evolution of the situation in Niger and the efforts to remedy it”.

Niger’s ambassador to Abidjan recalled

This meeting takes place after the postponement on Saturday of a meeting of the ECOWAS chiefs of staff, which aimed to inform the leaders “of the best options” following their decision to activate their intervention force to restore President Mohamed Bazoum who was overthrown on July 26.

The timetable and terms of a possible West African military intervention have not been disclosed. The leaders of ECOWAS had however reaffirmed to favor the diplomatic way for a resolution of the crisis.

For their part, the authors of the coup d’etat are blowing hot and cold. The military regime announced in a statement on Monday that it recalled ” for consultation ” Niger’s ambassador to Abidjan, after remarks by the Ivorian president, Alassane Ouattara, accused of having “the apology for armed action against” the country.

The soldiers denounce the“eagerness” from Mr. Ouattara to “to see this completely illegal and senseless aggression against Niger take place”. On his return Thursday from the ECOWAS summit, Mr. Ouattara said that Côte d’Ivoire would provide “one battalion” from 850 to 1,100 men, alongside Nigeria and Benin in particular. “The putschists can decide to leave tomorrow morning and there will be no military intervention, everything depends on them”he hammered, adding: “We are determined to reinstall President Bazoum in his functions”.

In addition, the Niamey Court of Appeal has ” canceled ” the nine-month prison sentence of a leader of a coalition supporting the military regime. Abdoulaye Seydou had been imprisoned for seven months for a case linked to a jihadist attack.