Niger Junta detains 180 former politicians

Niger Junta has detained over 180 former politicians and members of the overthrown democratically elected administration after taking over the nation in a coup last week.

Energy Minister Mahamane Sani Mahamadou, Mines Minister Ousseini Hadizatou, and Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) President Foumakoye Gado were among those seized, according to PNDS spokesman Hamid N’Gadé.

The coup plotters also detained Interior Minister Hama Adamou Souley, Transport Minister Oumarou Malam Alma, and his deputy, Kalla Moutari.

According to N’Gadé, the “abusive arrests” were proof of the military’s “repressive, dictatorial, and unlawful behaviour.”

General Omar Tchiani’s elite squad pronounced Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum of the PNDS, deposed on Wednesday.

On Friday, Tchiani declared himself to be the new ruler.

Following that, the coup plotters suspended the West African country’s constitution and disbanded its constitutional institutions.

Internationally, the coup has been denounced.

The West African Community of States (ECOWAS) issued an ultimatum to the coup leaders on Sunday, threatening to use force if Bazoum was not released and reinstated within a week.

The military governments of Burkina Faso and Mali advised ECOWAS not to intervene on Monday.

Any military intervention in Niger would be equivalent to declaring war on Burkina Faso and Mali, according to a joint statement issued by the two transitional administrations.

According to them, military involvement might have terrible implications, destabilising the entire sub-region.

Burkina Faso and Mali are also members of ECOWAS.

The European Union (EU) stated on Monday that it welcomed the ECOWAS measures.

According to Borrell, Bazoum is the country’s single head of state, and no other authority can be recognised.

Niger, a former French colony, was regarded as a beacon of democracy in the Sahel area, which has been devastated by Islamist terrorism.

dpa/NAN