The court of the West African bloc, ECOWAS, has ordered the release of Niger’s ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained since a July 26 coup.
The court has called for his “immediate and unconditional release” and his reinstatement as president of the republic.
Bazoum has been held in his presidential residence with his wife and their son since he was overthrown.
The court ruling stated that there are constitutional rights that have been violated and that Bazoum is the one who represents the state of Niger.
The military rulers of Niger have not yet responded to the ruling, and other member states have ignored rulings from the ECOWAS court in the past.
Bazoum’s lawyers have said that the court’s decisions are not subject to any appeal.
According to Seydou Diagne, one of Bazoum’s lawyers, the court has convicted military authorities for violating the principles of the constitution of ECOWAS with their coup d’etat.
It is the responsibility of ECOWAS and its member states to ensure that this court decision is effectively applied. ECOWAS has also suspended Niger from all of its “decision-making bodies” until constitutional order is restored.
