Niger military junta fumes, rejects ECOWAS demands to free Bazoum

The military junta in Niger has rejected the call by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to release the country’s overthrown president in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

The regional body, at a summit in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, made the repeated call for the release of the former leader since he was placed under house arrest in late July.

At the summit, the Ecowas leaders deliberated on military takeovers in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea since 2020, and two attempted coups in Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone in recent weeks.

The ECOWAS has been relentless in demanding the release of Bazoum and demanded that the junta shorten its proposed three years transition to civilian rule.

While reacting to the ECOWAS demands, Niger military leader Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani told state broadcaster RTN that Mr Bazoum would not be released.

He however agreed to reduce the transition period without giving further details.

The EU and the United States have sanctioned Niger over the coup which also led to the detention of Mr. Bazoum.

The United States government officially suspended assistance to Niger by cutting off aid worth over $400m.

The deposed president Bazoum was elected in 2021, marking Niger’s first democratic power change since its independence from French colonial authority in 1960.