The African Union conveyed on Friday “deep concern” regarding the alleged inadequate conditions of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum’s confinement, denouncing the treatment he received from coup organizers as “unacceptable.”
In a statement, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the head of the AU Commission, expressed his disapproval, stating, “Such treatment of a democratically elected president through a regular electoral process is unacceptable.” The concern adds to the growing chorus of worry regarding 63-year-old Bazoum, who was ousted by military leaders last month.
“Concordant sources attest to a worrying deterioration” of conditions, Faki said.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, along with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, have both raised their voices concerning the deteriorating living conditions that Bazoum and his family are purportedly facing.
As per a CNN report on Wednesday, Bazoum was said to be confined in isolation, compelled to consume basic rice and pasta, and lacked access to essential medications.
Faki additionally conveyed his “strong supoort” for the measures sanctioned by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which on Thursday sanctioned the dispatch of a standby force to reinstate constitutional order in Niger.
An effort this week to dispatch a collaborative delegation consisting of representatives from ECOWAS, UN, and AU to Niger’s capital, Niamey, was turned down by the leaders of the coup.