Niger lifts immunity of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum

Bazoum and his household have been underneath home arrest since a army coup that overthrew his rule final summer time
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Niger

Niger’s highest courtroom lifted the immunity of the nation’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, almost a 12 months after he was overthrown by mutinous troopers, his lawyer stated Friday, opening the door for the military junta to prosecute him for alleged excessive treason.

Bazoum and his household have been underneath home arrest since a army coup that overthrew his rule final summer time. The junta authorities stated they deliberate to prosecute him for “excessive treason” and for undermining nationwide safety, and earlier this 12 months initiated authorized proceedings to raise his immunity in a newly created State Court docket, which grew to become the nation’s highest judicial authority.

Earlier than Bazoum was forcibly faraway from energy, Niger was the West’s final main safety accomplice within the Sahel, the huge area south of the Sahara Desert that has turn into a scorching spot for violent extremism.

However the army junta ordered the withdrawal of Western troops from the nation and turned to Russia for safety help. U.S. forces are poised to go away by the center of September, the Pentagon stated earlier this month.

The proceedings earlier than the State Court docket have been marred by severe irregularities, together with violations of Bazoum’s rights to current proof in his protection, to speak together with his authorized counsel, and to be heard earlier than an impartial courtroom, based on Human Rights Watch, a number one rights group.

Bazoum’s lawyer, Reed Brody, criticized the ruling as a “mockery” of the rule of regulation in Niger. “We by no means even obtained to talk to our consumer,” Brody stated. “This can be a travesty of justice.”

Bazoum’s attorneys have been unable to speak with him since final October and have had restricted entry to case materials, based on HRW.

Late final 12 months, the best courtroom of West African regional bloc ECOWAS dominated that Bazoum and his household have been arbitrarily detained and referred to as for him to be reinstated as President.