African Union holds meeting to deliberate on Niger coup

“ AU’s Peace & Security Council meets to receive an update on the evolution of the situation in Niger and the efforts to address it.”

News Agency of Nigeria • August 14, 2023

Niger junta[Credit: THISDAYLIVE]

The African Union held a meeting on Monday to deliberate on the ongoing political crisis in the Niger Republic, which saw the country’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, ousted in a July 26 coup.

“ AU’s Peace & Security Council meets to receive an update on the evolution of the situation in Niger and the efforts to address it,” the union said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Participants of the meeting, held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, include AU Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat and representatives from both Niger and the West African regional bloc.

Mr Mahamat had openly condemned and expressed deep concern about the poor conditions in which Mr Bazoum is detained, stating that it was unacceptable.

The military regime currently in charge in the Niger Republic issued a stern declaration on their plans to prosecute Mr Bazoum on charges of high treason. They also criticised ECOWAS for placing the country under economic sanctions.

Since the coup, the ousted president and his family have been held at the president’s official Niamey residence.

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