ECOWAS demands release of Mohamed Bazoum by Niger Republic junta

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has demanded the release of Mohamed Bazoum by the military junta in the Niger Republic. 

Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS commission, said the demand for Bazoum’s release was part of the resolutions reached at the end of the extraordinary summit of ECOWAS held in Abuja on Saturday.

Bazoum was the president of Niger until he was ousted by a military coup in July 2023.

The military junta said Bazoum, who has been under house arrest, would be prosecuted for “high treason and undermining the internal and external security” of the country.

ECOWAS has since imposed several sanctions on Niger over the military coup.

The organisation affirmed its recognition of Bazoum as the legitimate president of the Niger Republic.

In its resolutions on Saturday, ECOWAS called for the establishment of “an acceptable transition timetable to the constitutional order” by the Niger military government.

“The Authority calls for the immediate release of his excellency Mohammed Bazoum, former President of the Republic of Niger,” the communique reads.

“The Authority also calls on the transition authorities in Niger to provide an acceptable transition timetable to the constitutional order.”

Earlier, ECOWAS  lifted the sanctions imposed on Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso — member nations that are ruled by the military.