Overthrown Niger President Can't Get Proper Food To Health Care, EU: Unjustified

Niger President Mohamed Bazoum. (Wikimedia Commons/Magharebia)

JAKARTA - The European Union expressed concern about Niger's military junta's treatment of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, saying it was inappropriate to obtain a figure who dedicated his life to the country.

European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell said President Bazoum and his family had been short on food, electricity and health care for recent days.

President Bazoum was detained in a military coup on July 26. The military junta ignored international demands to return him to office.

Borrell said the European Union was concerned about the "deteriorating conditions" in which President Bazoum and his family were detained.

"We once again ask that they be released without conditions," Borrell said, citing The National News on August 11.

"President Bazoum has dedicated his life to working to improve the daily lives of the Niger people. This kind of treatment cannot be justified," he stressed.

Meanwhile, countries that are members of the ECOWAS (West African Country's Economic Community) yesterday agreed to order the activation of standby troops to possibly be used against the junta that is taking power in Niger, saying they want a peaceful restoration of democracy but all options including power are on the table.

After the summit of his country's heads in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, ECOWAS in an official statement called a resolution asking the head of the block defense to "activate ECOWAS Alert Forces with all its elements immediately", as quoted by Reuters.

Another resolution talks about ordering "the deployment of ECOWAS Alert Forces to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger", immediately followed by another resolution that spoke of restoring order "through peaceful means".