The Military Council in Niger announced that they would “prosecute” President Mohamed Bazoum under the charges of “high treason” and “undermining the security” of the country.
“The Nigerien government has so far gathered … evidence to prosecute the deposed president 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,” the Council said in a statement on a national television channel.
They also slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country, saying that the sanctions imposed on Niger had made it difficult for people to access medicines, food and electricity, and were “illegal, inhumane and humiliating”.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the coup and has not ruled out using force against the army officers who toppled the democratically elected Bazoum on July 26.
The West African bloc has approved the deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger as soon as possible but remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Source: Qatar News Agency