West African court orders immediate release of ousted Niger president

The court of the West African bloc, ECOWAS, has issued a ruling demanding the immediate release of Niger’s deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held in detention since a July 26 coup.

The court, based in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, called for Bazoum’s “immediate and unconditional release” and ordered his reinstatement, asserting that he still represents the state of Niger.

Niger, currently suspended from the Economic Community of West African States due to the coup, witnessed the overthrow of Bazoum by the presidential guard, leading to his detention with his family. The court emphasized the violation of constitutional rights in its ruling.

Bazoum’s legal team welcomed the decision, highlighting that the court, for the first time, convicted military authorities for violating ECOWAS constitutional principles. They emphasized the responsibility of ECOWAS and its member states to ensure the effective implementation of the court’s decision.

The military rulers in Niger have not immediately responded to the ruling, and historically, other member states have ignored ECOWAS court rulings. Bazoum had previously appealed to the ECOWAS Court of Justice in mid-September seeking his release and the restoration of constitutional order.

ECOWAS announced Niger’s suspension from all its “decision-making bodies” until constitutional order is restored. The bloc, which imposed economic sanctions against Niger, has now resumed dialogue with the military regime. Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, mediating in Niamey, revealed that details on the transition back to civilian rule had been agreed upon with Niger’s prime minister, appointed by the military regime.

Dussey, without disclosing specific details on the transition period, announced plans to present the agreed content to mediating heads of state and the ECOWAS Commission. The possibility of reducing sanctions against Niger is contingent on a “short transition” back to civilian rule, with a committee of heads of state tasked with negotiating steps with the Nigerien military regime.

In August, General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the military regime, stated that the transition duration would not exceed three years and would be determined by an “inclusive national dialogue.”