The United States Government has reacted to the report that detained Nigerien President, Mohamed Bazoum will be prosecuted for treason by the Military junta who forcibly took over the Government.
In a briefing while attending to questions, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for State Department, Vedant Patel who made this known, said the United States incredibly dismayed by reports that President Bazoum’s unjust detention taking step further.
late Sunday night, Niger’s military regime vowed to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” and slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country.
The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the coup and has not ruled out using force against the army officers, who toppled the democratically elected Bazoum on July 26.
While it also approved the deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger as soon as possible but remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Niger’s military junta said they would prosecute Bazoum “for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger”, according to a statement read out by Colonel- Major Amadou Abdramane on national television.
According to US State Department Deputy Spokesperson, “This action is completely unwarranted, unjustified, and candidly, it will not contribute to a peaceful resolution of this crisis.
“It is a further affront, in our opinion, to democracy and justice and to the respect of the rule of law. And a threat like this underscores the urgency of respecting constitutional order in Niger”, Patel added.
Meanwhile, Bazoum, 63, and his family have been held at the president’s official Niamey residence since the coup, with international concern mounting over his conditions in detention.
On Friday, the United States Goverment has said it will be joining the ECOWAS Heads of States to hold Nigerien Military junta accountable to safety and security of President Mohamed Bazoum, his family, and detained members of the constitutional government.