The leaders of a military junta in the Niger Republic are allegedly depriving the ousted President of the country, Mohamed Bazoum, of food, water and electricity at an army camp where he has been held captive for the past two weeks.
According to a Bloomberg report, some reliable sources who are very conversant with what is happening around the area, but prefer not to be mentioned, for security reasons, said authorities cut power, food and water supplies to the site where Bazoum and his immediate family are being held in captivity, over the past weeks.
“Deliveries of fresh food to Bazoum’s residence within the presidential guard camp in the capital, Niamey, were withheld a week after his detention,” one of the sources said.
Similarly, a spokesperson to Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, said in a statement, that Guterres is concerned over the deplorable living conditions, living by Bazoum and his family, since they were detained.
“The secretary-general is very concerned over the deplorable living conditions that President Bazoum and his family are reported to be living under as they continue to be arbitrarily detained by members of the Presidential Guard in Niger.
“The Secretary-General reiterates his concern over the health and safety of the president and his family and once again calls for his immediate, unconditional release and his reinstatement as head of state,” says Guteress’ Spokesperson.
The ousted President, who was overthrown on July 26 by a group of soldiers led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, has been subjected to a lot of traumatic experience by the military junta who failed to meet a deadline set by regional leaders to relinquish power by Aug. 6.
The military group had earlier cut the country’s diplomatic ties with countries like Nigeria, Togo, France and the US, while also on Thursday, announced the appointment of a 21-member cabinet to the new government in the country.
Military officers were appointed to fill some strategic posts of defence, security and interior ministers, while Ali Lamine Zeine, who was named by the junta as prime minister earlier this week, was given the finance portfolio.
However, Heads of state from the ECOWAS had scheduled to meet in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Thursday, to discuss Tchiani’s failure to reinstate Bazoum.
The 15-nation bloc had last week, threatened to consider using military force to remove the coup leaders.
