The coup-toppled president of Niger has appealed to the West African bloc’s court docket to free him, his lawyer mentioned on Wednesday.
Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by the navy on July 26 and has been detained at residence along with his spouse and little one since.
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Bazoum
He filed a lawsuit with a court docket of the Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS) on September 18, mentioned his Senegalese lawyer Seydou Diagne.
The lawsuit invokes his “arbitrary arrest” and “violation of freedom of motion”, Diagne mentioned.
“We request… in view of the violation of political rights, that the State of Niger be ordered to instantly restore constitutional order by handing over energy to President Bazoum, who should proceed to train it till the tip of his mandate.”
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In addition to slapping hefty sanctions in opposition to Niger, ECOWAS has warned that it may intervene militarily in Niger if diplomatic efforts to return Bazoum to energy fail.
Niger’s coup befell in a area wracked by a jihadist insurgency, following overthrows in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso.
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If the court docket guidelines in favour of Bazoum, “Niger has the authorized obligation to execute the choice”, Diagne mentioned.
Niger’s coup leaders have declared their intention to “prosecute” the democratically elected Bazoum for “excessive treason and undermining inner and exterior safety”.
On Wednesday the European Union (EU) reiterated its help for ECOWAS’s place and made a contemporary name “for the quick and unconditional launch” of Bazoum and his household.
EU
“The EU place is obvious and unchanged: the EU doesn’t recognise authorities emanating from the putsch. President Bazoum stays the only real legit president of Niger,” EU overseas affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali mentioned.
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The remarks got here a day after the EU ambassador to Niamey, Salvador Pinto da Franca, was summoned by Niger’s military-appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine.
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© Agence France-Presse
