On Friday, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, conveyed “grave concern” regarding the “worsening detention conditions” of President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger. He deemed the treatment accorded to him by the military authorities, who orchestrated his removal from power, as “unacceptable.”
In the same statement, the leader “expresses his strong support for the decisions of ECOWAS”, the Economic Community of West African States, which decided on Thursday to deploy a “standby force” to restore constitutional order.
Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected in 2021, has been held prisoner with his wife and son since the military coup that overthrew him on July 26th.
NGO Human Rights Watch, in direct conversation with Mr. Bazoum, reported that he characterized the treatment of his family as “inhuman and cruel.” He stated that he has been without electricity since August 2nd and has lacked human contact for a week.