The transitional government appointed by the military council in Niger announced that the coup leaders had agreed to start talks with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) group of countries, in an effort to resolve the crisis through dialogue and avoid military intervention, while the military council threatened to try the detained president, Mohamed Bazoum, on charges of treason. Great.
The Prime Minister appointed by the coup leaders in Niger, Mohamed El-Amine El-Zein, said that the head of the military council, General Abd al-Rahman Tiani, gave the green light to start talks with the ECOWAS group of countries, expressing his optimism that these talks would start in the coming days.
Al-Zein said that what calls itself the “National Council for the Protection of the Homeland” and the transitional government condemn “the strength of the misleading campaign that serves the interest of one person and his group,” referring to the ousted President Muhammad Bazoum and his government.
The Prime Minister affirmed that “the aim of this campaign is to undermine confidence in the transitional authorities, and to thwart all efforts for a negotiated solution to get out of the crisis in order to justify a military intervention that the heads of some countries entrusted to an international force to implement in the name of ECOWAS.”
Mediation and recommendation
A mediation delegation of religious scholars in Nigeria said that it had agreed with the coup leaders – whom they met on Sunday in Niger – to intensify dialogue to resolve the crisis. The delegation recommended to the leadership of Nigeria not to resort to a military solution.
The head of the mediation delegation, Sheikh Abdullah Bala Lau, said – in a statement – that the coup leader, Abd al-Rahman Tiani, told him that “his door is open to discuss the path of diplomacy and peace in order to resolve the crisis.”
The delegation of sheikhs is carrying out this mediation with the approval of the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the ECOWAS group.
ECOWAS imposed a series of sanctions on Niger following the coup that overthrew President Bazoum on July 26, and agreed to activate its “reserve force” to be ready to deploy in Niger to restore constitutional order, a move that angered the coup leaders.
ECOWAS did not specify any timetable for its possible military intervention, and last Saturday canceled an emergency meeting of its armies’ commanders that was scheduled to discuss the decision to activate the reserve force.
This came at a time when the emergency session of the ECOWAS parliament witnessed a sharp division that prevented agreement on a unified decision on military intervention in Niger.
It is also expected that the African Peace and Security Council of the African Union will hold a meeting today, Monday, that was scheduled to be held on Saturday, and it was postponed for further consultation among members regarding a possible suspension of Niger’s membership in the African Union.
Bazoom trial
In a remarkable development, Colonel Amadou Abd al-Rahman, a member of the so-called ruling military council in Niger, said that the council had collected the necessary evidence to prosecute the detained president, Mohamed Bazoum, on charges of high treason and harming Niger’s security.
In a statement read on national television, Abd al-Rahman said, “The Nigerien government has so far collected evidence to prosecute the ousted president and his local and foreign partners before the competent national and international bodies on charges of high treason and undermining Niger’s internal and external security.”
Bazoum (right) at his residence days after his overthrow during his reception with Chadian President Mohamed Idriss Deby (French)
Bazoum has been held in his presidential residence with his son and wife since the day of the coup. The military council said it had not seized his residence and was still free to communicate with the outside, and “has all means of communication.”
The coup leaders confirmed that Bazoum “receives regular visits from his doctor, who has not raised any concerns about his health and that of his family members.” Bazoum had announced through a number of media outlets that he had become a “hostage”, that he was deprived of electricity and forced to eat rice and “pasta” only.
With regard to the arrested officials of the overthrown regime, Abd al-Rahman said that the military council and the transitional government “affirm their firm determination to respect our laws and regulations and Niger’s human rights obligations, and this ensures that they are treated humanely, and in accordance with our traditional and religious values.”
Position of Guinea Conakry
In a related context, the council established by the coup leaders in Niger expressed its appreciation for Guinea’s position rejecting military intervention.
This came during a visit to Conakry by General Salo Parmo, a member of the Council. Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso announced their opposition to any military intervention in Niger.
At the end of last month, Mali and Burkina Faso – which are also led by military men – also expressed their solidarity with the new regime in Niamey.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, supporters of the military council formed by the coup leaders in Niger gathered in the capital, Niamey, to express their support for the council’s position and the decisions it took.
The demonstrators denounced the positions of West African countries that imposed sanctions on the council, and raised slogans calling on the military council to continue cooperation with Mali and Burkina Faso.
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2023-08-14 11:37:30
