₦airaland Forum

As ECOWAS leaders fail to meet, concerns over the deteriorating health of deposed President Bazoum mount.

An emergency meeting between Wester African nations on the coup in Niger has been postponed indefinitely as concerns over the health of detained President Mohammed Bazoum increase.

Members of the Economic Cooperation of West African Nations (ECOWAS) were due to meet in the Ghanaian capital Accra on Saturday to discuss how to tackle the Niger crisis after they approved the deployment of a stand-by force to restore constitutional order.

But the meeting was indefinitely suspended for “technical reasons”. Sources said the meeting was originally set to inform the organisation’s leaders about “the best options” for activating and deploying a military force.

“The military option seriously envisaged by ECOWAS is not a war against Niger and its people but a police operation against hostage-takers and their accomplices,” Niger’s Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou said.

ECOWAS is determined to stop the sixth military takeover in the region in just three years and has severed financial transactions and electricity supplies and closed borders with landlocked Niger, blocking much-needed imports to one of the world’s poorest countries.

At a previous summit last week, ECOWAS warned it could intervene militarily and set August 6 as a deadline for the military to restore democracy and free Bazoum. However, no military action followed when the deadline lapsed.

The coup leaders have since named a 21-person cabinet, which met for the first time on Friday.

‘Inhuman and degrading’
Meanwhile, concerns over the health of the ousted president are mounting. Carine Kaneza Nantulya, deputy director in the Africa division at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said the group spoke with Bazoum and his family on August 9 and 10.

“We know he has been able to see the doctor today, but the situation remains concerning,” Nantulya told Al Jazeera, adding the detainees had no electricity since August 2 and no contact with the outside world since August 4.

“Family members and friends were also told that without electricity they had been reduced to eat dry food.”

One of the most concerning aspects is the president’s son has a medical issue and needs to see a physician, Nantulya said.

“My son is sick, has a serious heart condition, and needs to see a doctor. They’ve refused to let him get medical treatment,” Bazoum told HRW.

The European Union and the African Union joined others in sounding the alarm for Bazoum on Friday.

UN rights chief Volker Turk said Bazoum’s reported detention conditions “could amount to inhuman and degrading treatment, in violation of international human rights law”.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned the “coup plotters must face harsh consequences should anything happen” to Bazoum or his family.

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken said he was “dismayed” by the military’s refusal to release Bazoum’s family as a “demonstration of goodwill”.

A source close to Bazoum said: “He’s OK but the conditions are very difficult.” The coup leaders had threatened to assault him in the event of military intervention.

‘Down with ECOWAS’
Protesters opposing the Western African bloc gathered near a French military base on the outskirts of the capital Niamey shouting, “Down with France, down with ECOWAS.”

Many protesters brandished Russian and Niger flags and shouted their support for the country’s new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

France is the former colonial power of, and has maintained strong ties with, Niger with between 1,000 and 1,500 French soldiers stationed in the country as part of a force battling an eight-year rebellion.

But the coup leaders have revoked five military cooperation agreements and suspended broadcasts of French international news outlets France 24 and RFI.

“We are going to make the French leave! ECOWAS isn’t independent, it’s being manipulated by France,” said demonstrator Aziz Rabeh Ali.

001Lagos:
Why are you telling us , shebi you people in that hell hole of kwara state voted for APC Tinubu? Hehehehe 😂😆😂😆😂 😂

Una go see mehme

Diesel will be N850 soon, una eye go see una back

Bigkoko:
The same way the Brits sabotaged Soviet built Steel Plant in Ajaokuta till date. Tell me why Karma is called a bitch?

Russia has since planned for this war, and has plans to stop it and will do anything to stop it. That is why they started supporting coups in other Franco Phone countries before Niger.
Russia through its foreign Ministry has issued a warning and mobilization private citizens for Wagner is ongoing for full confrontation with Nigeria & ECOWAS forces. Russian soldiers wont be here but Wagner PLC taking orders from Kremlin.

Iran will gladly supply Shahed drones that is terrorizing Kiev as we speak. This will be their payback for the 2000+ Shites massacred by Nigerian Army led by Buratai, and subsequent humiliation of Sheik Zakazaky. Make una get sense small before they use una test new weapons systems..


Ukraine has the best air defense NATO can boast off, but with drones, your oil & gas installations will go up in flames within one week. Oil Companies will declare Force Majeure, by agreement they are immune. You that depends on salary will be the hardest hit..... That small community slot you dey take hold body for Escravos or Eket go stop first. mo say we no bring una update.

If Asiwaju wants to fight, he should use his ronu brothers and hope Lagos bears the flights of drones...

SendoSendal:
This is high level betrayal by the President. It is important we condemn betrayals in politics. If you know you won't be able to keep to the terms of bargain, don't seek favours. We all know how El Rufai stuck his neck out for Tinubu even when the odds were stashed against him. Now its time to return the favours now, the President started developing cold feets. We should do politics devoid of Betrayals and Backstabbings. Even if El Rufai is the biggest sinner in this world, the President knew he had baggages before seeking his favours during pre-elections and even during the elections. If you didn't remember his baggage when he was helping you, you shouldn't remember his baggage when it's payback time