Mark Andura
The Niger junta has said it will prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason over his exchanges with foreign heads of state and international organisations.
According to Reuters, Junta spokesperson Colonel Amadou Abdramane said in a statement read out on state TV late on Sunday that the military authorities had “gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the ousted president for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger.”
West African leaders on August 10 ramped up the rhetoric against Niger’s coup leaders, ordering the deployment of a regional standby force to restore democracy in the coup-hit country.
Niger Republic has been engulfed in political chaos since late last month, when Bazoum was ousted in a coup d’etat by the presidential guard.
That deadline came and went on August 6, without any change in the political situation.
ECOWAS leaders have said their preference is to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis and would send in troops as a last resort.
However, the leader of the Niger Junta, General Abdourahmane Tchiani has agreed to explore diplomatic dialogue.
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