Health Concerns for Ousted Niger President: US and UN Worried
The health and safety of Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been under house arrest for over fourteen days, has raised concerns for both the United States and the United Nations.
“We are greatly worried about his health and his safety and the personal safety of his family,” a US state department spokesman said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his worry, which also extended to the reported “unacceptable living conditions” experienced by the family.
Mr. Bazoum was removed from power on July 26th.
Earlier Mr Bazoum’s party said he and his family were being detained under “cruel” and “inhumane” conditions, Reuters reported.
From that point onwards, Niger has been under the control of a military junta, and during this time, Mr. Bazoum has been confined to the presidential palace. The junta members have not provided any statements regarding the well-being of the former leader who was removed from power.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, phoned Mr. Bazoum on Tuesday to confirm the continuous assistance of the United States, as stated by Washington.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller added: “As time goes on, as he’s held in isolation, it’s a situation that is of growing concern to us.”
In a statement, the political party PNDS-Tarayya asserted that Mr. Bazoum and his family lack access to amenities such as running water, electricity, perishable items, and medical services.
The remark mirrored earlier statements from Niger’s elected prime minister, Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou. He had mentioned that Mr. Bazoum, along with his wife and child, was being detained without access to electricity or water.
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Ecowas, the Economic Community of West African States, had set a deadline of Sunday for the leaders of the coup in Niger to step aside and reinstate Mr. Bazoum as the president.
Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, the leader of the presidential guard, asserts that he currently holds control over Niger, whereas, in the aftermath of the coup, the junta has designated Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, a former finance minister, to assume the role of the new prime minister.
Ecowas representatives are scheduled to convene on Thursday to determine their subsequent actions. The recent military government has additionally shut down Niger’s airspace indefinitely, attributing it to the perceived “risk of military interference” from Ecowas.
France refuted allegations made by Niger’s military junta on Wednesday, asserting that it had no intentions of undermining the stability of the nation.
The leaders of the coup alleged that French planes had violated the nation’s airspace and that French troops had liberated detained jihadists, all to assault military positions.
“France firmly denies the new unfounded accusations by the putschists in Niger,” the French defense and foreign ministries said in a joint statement quoted by AFP news agency.
It was mentioned that the Niger military had approved the flight. Both the United States and France have military installations in Niger, which are utilized in efforts to counter extremist groups in the broader area.
Niger assumed the primary hub for French military forces after being instructed to depart Mali after a coup occurred in the region.
As a component of diplomatic initiatives, a pair of representatives from Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has engaged with the junta in Niamey, the capital.
Health Concerns for Ousted Niger President: US and UN Worried
