According to ECOWAS, it contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities to restore constitutional order through peaceful means.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the plan by Niger junta to bring charges of high treason against the ousted President, Mohamed Bazoum.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the junta that seized power in the West African country said on Monday that the deposed president could be charged with high treason.
Ousted President Bazoum has been under house arrest since July 26, 2023, when the presidential guard seized power from him.
A spokesperson for the junta, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, who stated this on state TV, disclosed that the junta had "assembled the necessary elements to prosecute the ousted president for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger."
Reacting to the development in a statement on Monday, the regional bloc described the move as condemnable.
While maintaining that Bazoum remains the democratically-elected President of the Republic of Niger recognized by ECOWAS and the international community, the regional body described the move as another form of provocation.
According to ECOWAS, it contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities to restore constitutional order through peaceful means.
The statement read: "ECOWAS has learned with stupefaction attempts to bring charges of high reason against H.E. Mohamed BAZOUM, President of the Republic of Niger.
"ECOWAS condemns this move as it represents yet another form of provocation and contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities in the Republic of Niger to restore constitutional order through peaceful means.
"President BAZOUM remains the democratically-elected President of the Republic of Niger recognized by ECOWAS and the international community. ECOWAS condemns his illegal detention and calls for his immediate release and reinstatement."
SaharaReporters on Sunday reported that Niger Republic military junta leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani had agreed to dialogue with ECOWAS.
This comes after he met with a delegation of Islamic scholars led by the national leader of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau to the Niger Republic last week
The Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, disclosed that General Tchiani had expressed readiness to dialogue with the regional bloc.
‘’We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us…. we hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted,” he said.
The Voice of Nigeria (VON) earlier reported that some Islamic scholars from Nigeria met with the coup leaders in Niger over the weekend.
Their meeting came after the coup leaders rebuffed threats by the regional bloc to forcefully restore the country’s ousted leader, Bazoum if he was not reinstated by the junta within a week.