ECOWAS, US Condemn Niger Military Junta’s Threat To Prosecute Bazoum

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United States have condemned the Niger military junta's threat to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The Niger military junta is all set to prosecute Bazoum for treason and other crimes.

ECOWAS was founded in 1975 in Nigeria and last month, Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected as the president of the union that includes 15 countries in West Africa.

"It (the planned prosecution) represents yet another form of provocation and contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities in the Republic of Niger to restore constitutional order through peaceful means," ECOWAS said on Monday.

Apart from ECOWAS, the U.S. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel also addressed the press on Monday and said, "We are incredibly dismayed by reports that President Bazoum's unjust detention has gone even a step further."

"This action is completely unwarranted and unjustified, and candidly, it will not contribute to a peaceful resolution of this crisis," Patel said. "It is a further affront, in our opinion, to democracy and justice and to the respect of the rule of law. And a threat like this underscores the urgency of respecting the constitutional order in Niger."

He went on explain that the United States government continued to remain deeply engaged in the region. Furthermore, the United States appreciated ECOWAS' immense leadership throughout the crisis, noting their work and leadership as well as the work and leadership of the African Union throughout this crisis.

He also noted that ECOWAS has been clear on the stand that military intervention should be a last resort, something that the United States agrees with.

"We continue to be focused on finding a diplomatic solution and are in close contact with ECOWAS and their leadership on this," Patel added. "At the end of the day, we are all in alignment that we want a peaceful resolution to this crisis and the preservation of constitutional order in Niger."

A group of soldiers took over Niger on July 26 and announced that they have evidence against President Mohamed Bazoum "to prosecute" him and "his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international bodies for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger."

Due to the ongoing crisis, at least 4.3 million people in Niger are lacking basics like food and medicine. The junta has closed airspace, which has made it difficult to bring humanitarian aid into Niger.