Chairperson of AU Commission Expresses Support for Decisions of ECOWAS Regarding Niger

Addis Ababa August 11/2023 (ENA) The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed his strong support for the decisions adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on anti-constitutional change in Niger.

Recall, yesterday ECOWAS said it wanted a peaceful restoration of democracy but all options were on the table following a coup d'état occurred on 26 July 2023 in Niger when the country's presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum.

In a communiqué, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission expressed deep concern at the reported poor conditions of detention of President Mohamed Bazoum. 

Indeed, concordant sources attest to a worrying deterioration of such conditions, the communiqué added.  

Mahamat called on the military authorities to urgently halt the escalation of relations with the regional organization ECOWAS, including the cessation of the continued sequestration of President Bazoum in worryingly poor conditions.

Such treatment of a democratically elected president through a regular electoral process is unacceptable, he stressed.

The Chairperson further called for the immediate release of President Bazoum and all members of his family and government who are illegally detained with him. 

Their detention flies in the face of Nigerien law and the founding principles of the AU and ECOWAS.