A regional court in West Africa, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, has declared that the removal and subsequent arbitrary detention of Niger’s ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, along with his family, was unlawful. The court, sitting in Abuja, issued a mandate for the restoration of constitutional order, emphasizing Bazoum’s immediate and unconditional reinstatement.
Following his overthrow by members of the presidential guard on July 26, Bazoum, alongside his wife and child, has been confined to his residence. The coup drew widespread condemnation, leading to sanctions from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the primary political and economic bloc in the region. Calls for a return to democratic governance resonated across West Africa.
The presiding judge, Gberi-Be Ouattara, delivered the court’s directive on Friday, demanding the Nigerien military government to facilitate Bazoum’s reinstatement and uphold constitutional norms. Seydou Diagne, Bazoum’s legal representative, disclosed that a lawsuit was initiated on September 16, seeking the president’s release.
In a countermove, the Nigerien military government filed a suit in November, appealing for the lifting of sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on the country. However, the court rejected this request in December. The developments underscore the regional commitment to restoring democratic principles and ensuring the lawful governance of nations within the West African community.