APA-Niamey (Niger) – The regional body decided Thursday to intervene militarily to restore President Mohamed Bazoun to office if all avenues of negotiation fail.
Moussa Faki Mahamat also expressed concern about the “worrying deteriorating” condition in detention of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.
Human Rights Watch said it had spoken to Bazoum, who told them that the junta’s treatment of his family was inhumane and cruel.
The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, writing on social media “reiterated its deep concern at the deteriorating conditions of detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and his family, who, according to the latest information, have been deprived of food, electricity and medical care for several days”.
Paris will back all the decisions adopted at the extraordinary summit of ECOWAS in Abuja, including activating the deployment of a standby force for Niger, the French Foreign Ministry said.
The United States supports a peaceful solution to the crisis.
“Democracy is the best basis for development, social cohesion, and stability in Niger. We stand with the people of Niger to achieve these goals,” said U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
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