On Monday, the previous ruling party stated that the new military leaders of Niger, who seized control of the government through a coup a few days ago, have apprehended at least 180 members of the previously democratically elected administration.
According to the party’s spokesperson, Hamid N’Gadé, several high-profile officials including the president of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, Foumakoye Gado, the Mines Minister, Ousseini Hadizatou, and the Energy Minister, Mahamane Sani Mahamadou have been detained.
The “abusive arrests” were evidence of “the repressive, dictatorial and unlawful behavior” of the military, N’Gadé said.
Last week Wednesday, officers from General Omar Tchiani’s elite unit declared Niger’s democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum, of the PNDS, out of power. Tchiani later appointed himself as the new ruler on Friday.
Shortly afterward, the coup plotters suspended the West African country’s constitution and dissolved all constitutional institutions. The coup has been internationally condemned.
The West African Community of States ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to the coup leaders on Sunday saying that if Bazoum was not released and reinstated within a week, ECOWAS would take measures that could include the use of force.
On Monday, the military governments of neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali warned ECOWAS against intervening.
Any military intervention against Niger would be equal to a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali, a joint statement by the two transitional governments said.
However, in the meeting, which was chaired by its Chairman, President Bola Tinubu, ECOWAS gave the junta seven days ultimatum to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, who is being held captive or facing sanctions.
Angered by the threat, Burkina Faso and Mali in the statement read on their national broadcasts on Monday night, urged the West African leaders to leave Niger alone, stressing that any funny move would result in “disastrous consequences”.
Part of the statement reads, “The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali express their fraternal solidarity… to the people of Niger, who have decided with full responsibility to take their destiny in hand and assume the fullness of their sovereignty before history.
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