Mohamed Bazoum, the former president of Niger who was ousted in a coup on July 26, has announced through his lawyers his intention to file a legal case in Niger against those responsible for the coup. The legal team also revealed plans to appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Council in a bid to address the ongoing crisis.
The complaint, which is expected to be lodged in the capital city of Niamey in the coming days, targets General Abdourahamane Tiani, the new leader who assumed power following the coup, along with “all others” involved. The case is filed as a civil action and cites various charges, including “attack and conspiracy against state authority, crimes and offenses committed by civil servants, and arbitrary arrests and confinements.”
This legal action follows Bazoum’s earlier lawsuit filed with the court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on September 18. Since the coup, Bazoum has been under house arrest, with the coup leaders accusing him of “high treason” on August 13.
One of Bazoum’s lawyers, Dominique Inchauspe, described the coup as “an infringement on the dignity of the Nigerien state” and emphasized the “absolute necessity” of restoring the rule of law in Niger.
The lawyers also plan to appeal to two bodies within the UN Human Rights Council, including its working group on arbitrary detention. These legal efforts reflect the ongoing struggle to address the political crisis in Niger and ensure that democratic processes are upheld in the country.
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