Niger: US, UN Worried Over Deposed President’s Health

• US and UN express deep concern for Niger President Mohamed Bazoum’s health and safety during his house arrest
• Mr. Bazoum’s family reportedly faces “deplorable living conditions,” lacking basic amenities and medical care, raising international concern

The United States and the United Nations are concerned about the health and safety of Niger’s President, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been under house arrest for more than two weeks.

We are deeply concerned about his health, personal safety, and the personal safety of his family, a spokesman for the US State Department said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern about the allegedly “deplorable living conditions” in which Mr. Bazoum and his family lived.

According to Reuters, his party claimed they were being held in “cruel” and “inhumane” conditions.

Since then, Niger has been ruled by a military junta, with Mr. Bazoum imprisoned in the presidential palace. The junta has made no comments about the condition of the ousted leader.

According to Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Mr Bazoum on Tuesday and assured him of the US’s continued support.

As time passes, as he’s held in isolation,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller added, it’s a situation that is of growing concern to us.

Mr. Bazoum’s political party, the PNDS-Tarayya, claimed in a statement that he and his family lacked access to running water, electricity, fresh food, and doctors.

The statement echoed previous remarks made by Niger’s elected Prime Minister, Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, who said Mr. Bazoum was being held without electricity or water with his wife and son.

Niger junta vows to kill Bazoum if ECOWAS intervenes militarily

Niger’s military junta says it will not hesitate to kill ousted President Mohamed Bazoum if the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) carries out its threat of military action in the country.

Earlier on Thursday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ordered the chief of defence staff committee to activate its standby force immediately.
President of ECOWAS, Omar Alieu Touray, gave the order while reading the resolution taken at Thursday’s Extraordinary meeting on the Niger coup in Abuja.

Within Nigeria had reported the meeting of the leaders of the sub-region body in Abuja on Thursday.

The meeting was to deliberate on the next step to be taken after the seven-day ultimatum for the reinstatement of President Bazoum elapsed without compliance from the junta.