In the wake of last week’s coup, Niger’s new military rulers have reportedly detained at least 180 members of the former democratically elected government.
The list of detainees includes high-profile figures such as Energy Minister Mahamane Sani Mahamadou and Mines Minister Ousseini Hadizatou, according to the ousted ruling party.
These “abusive arrests” showcase the military’s “repressive, dictatorial and unlawful behaviour,” said PNDS spokesman Hamid N’Gadé.
General Omar Tchiani, who declared himself the new ruler last Friday, led the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and dissolved all constitutional institutions.
The international community has widely condemned the coup. ECOWAS, the West African Community of States, even issued a one-week ultimatum to the coup leaders: reinstate Bazoum or face possible forceful intervention.
However, neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, themselves ECOWAS members, warned against such actions, arguing that they could destabilize the entire region.
The European Union has voiced its support for ECOWAS measures, with foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell affirming Bazoum as the sole recognized head of state.
The coup has shaken Niger’s status as a beacon of democracy in the Sahel region, a region grappling with the effects of Islamist terrorism.
Following the coup in Niger, President Mohamed Bozoum has been in detention by the military.
