The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, expressed his “strong support” for the decisions adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on anti-constitutional change in Niger. In a statement released on Friday, August 11, the chairperson also expressed concern at the reported poor conditions of detention of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. ALSO READ: Niger Coup: What we know so far “Indeed, concordant sources attest to a worrying deterioration of such conditions,” reads part of the statement. AU’s reaction followed a decision by ECOWAS that among others ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger Republic. The President of ECOWAS, Omar Alieu Touray made the declaration on Thursday, August 10, while reading the resolution of the ECOWAS on the military junta in Niger at the end of the commission’s Extraordinary summit in Abuja. It also called on the African Union, AU, partner countries, and institutions to support the resolution taken by the sub-regional body. ECOWAS said all efforts made to dialogue with Niger Republic military junta have been defiantly rejected by coup leaders as they condemn the continuous detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and his family members. ALSO READ: Niger soldiers say President Bazoum's government has been removed “The Chairperson calls on the military authorities to urgently halt the escalation of relations with the regional organization ECOWAS, including the cessation of the continued sequestration of President Bazoum in worryingly poor conditions,” the AU chief added in a statement. Such treatment, he said, of a democratically elected president through a regular electoral process is unacceptable. “The Chairperson further calls for the immediate release of President Bazoum and all members of his family and government who are illegally detained with him. Their detention flies in the face of Nigerien law and the founding principles of the AU and ECOWAS. The Chairperson calls on the entire international community to unite efforts to save the moral and physical integrity of President Mohamed Bazoum.” The coup leaders have warned they will defend themselves against any intervention. Ecowas had issued a deadline of last Sunday to the Niger junta to restore the democratically-elected government, but it was ignored. Instead, military leaders named a new ruling cabinet.
