Niger Military Junta Plans To Sue President Bazoum Who Was Overthrown On Accusations Of Betray

Niger President Mohamed Bazoum. (Wikimedia Commons/Magharebia)

JAKARTA - The Niger military junta, which took power last month, plans to sue ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on charges of high treason over its meetings with foreign heads of state and international organizations.

Junta spokesman Colonel Amadou Abdramane said in a statement read on state television that military authorities had "collected the evidence needed to try ousted president... for high treason and undermine Niger's internal and external security."

Abdramane also said there was a misinformation campaign against the junta to try "to thwart a negotiated solution to the crisis to justify military intervention... on behalf of ECOWAS," as reported by Reuters on Aug. 14.

Previously, the African Union, the European Union, the United States and the United Nations (UN) said they were worried about the conditions experienced by President Bazoum.

Meanwhile, the political party Bazoum said his family did not have access to clean water, fresh food, or doctors. Bazoum himself told Human Rights Watch his son needed to go to a doctor because of his serious heart condition.

However, the junta said on Sunday, Bazoum regularly visited his doctor and the last visit was on August 12.

"After this visit, the doctor did not raise concerns about the health condition of the ousted president and his family members," said Abdramane.

Separately, West Africa's main regional bloc, ECOWAS, on Monday is expected to push for more talks with the junta, which has signaled a potential willingness to find a diplomatic resolution to the deadlock over the July 26 coup.

In addition, the 55-member African Union Peace and Security Council is also expected to meet on Monday to discuss the situation in Niger.

It is known that coup leaders have imprisoned President Bazoum and dissolved the elected government, drawing criticism from global powers and neighboring West Africa, which have activated a standby military force that could intervene to restore President Bazoum's power.

At stake not only the fate of Niger - the main uranium producer and Western allies in the fight against Islamist insurgency - but also the influence of global forces that have strategic interests in the region.