Niger’s coup leaders say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for ‘high treason’

NIAMEY – Niger’s mutinous infantrymen say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state safety, hours after they stated they have been open to discussion with West African countries to unravel the mounting regional disaster.

The announcement on state tv on Sunday evening, by way of spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, stated the army regime had “gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of Niger.”

Bazoum, Niger’s democratically elected president, was once ousted by way of participants of his presidential guard on July 26 and has since been below area arrest along with his spouse and son within the presidential compound within the capital, Niamey.

People on the subject of the president in addition to the ones in his ruling birthday party say their electrical energy and water had been bring to an end and they’re operating out of meals. The junta disregarded those reviews Sunday evening and accused West African politicians and world companions of fueling a disinformation marketing campaign to discredit the junta.

International power is rising at the junta to unlock and reinstate Bazoum. Immediately after the coup, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS gave the regime seven days to go back him to energy or threatened army power, however that closing date got here and went without a motion from both sides.

Last week, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a “standby” power, however it’s nonetheless unclear when or if it will input the rustic.