At least 180 members of the deposed democratically elected government have been detained by Niger’s new military authorities, who recently overthrew the country’s elected government in a coup.
According to the party’s spokesman, Hamid N’Gadé, those arrested included the president of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, Foumakoye Gado, the ministers of mines and energy, Ousseini Hadizatou and Mahamane Sani Mahamadou.
N’Gadé further stated that the coup plotters had detained Interior Minister Hama Adamou Souley, Transport Minister Oumarou Malam Alma, and his deputy Kalla Moutari.
The “abusive arrests” were evidence of “the repressive, dictatorial and unlawful behaviour” of the military, N’Gadé said.
On Wednesday, officers belonging to General Omar Tchiani’s elite unit ousted Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum of the PNDS party.
Premium Politics reported that Tchiani assumed the position of ruler on Friday.
The West African nation’s constitution was suspended shortly after, and all constitutional institutions were disbanded. The coup has received condemnation on a global scale.
On Sunday, the leaders of the coup received an ultimatum from the West African community of states, warning them that if Bazoum was not freed and restored within a week, ECOWAS would take action that might involve the use of force.
The military governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, two bordering countries, advised ECOWAS against becoming involved on Monday.
The two transitional administrations jointly stated that any military action against Niger would be equivalent to declaring war on Burkina Faso and Mali.
