Niger’s High Court has removed the immunity of the democratically elected former president, Mohamed Bazoum, almost a year after his ousting by mutinous soldiers, his lawyer said on Friday. This decision paves the way for the military junta to potentially try him for alleged high treason. Bazoum and his family have been under house arrest since the military coup that overthrew his government last summer.
The junta intends to prosecute the former president for «high treason» and for endangering national security. Earlier this year, they initiated the legal process to strip his immunity before the newly established State Court, which has now become the highest judicial authority in the country. Prior to Bazoum’s forced exit from power, Niger was the last major Western security partner in the Sahel region, a vast area south of the Sahara Desert that has become a hotspot for violent extremism.
However, after the military junta ordered the withdrawal of Western troops, they turned to the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, for security assistance. The U.S. forces are set to leave the country by mid-September, as announced by the Pentagon earlier this month. The legal proceedings in the State Court have been marred by serious irregularities, such as Bazoum’s right to present evidence in his defense being violated, his communication with his lawyer being restricted, and not being heard by an impartial court, according to Human Rights Watch.
Bazoum’s lawyer, Reed Brody, denounced the ruling as a «mockery» of the rule of law in Niger. He stated, «We never got to speak with our client. This is a travesty of justice.» Bazoum’s legal team has been unable to communicate with him since October and have limited access to the case material, as reported by HRW.
At the end of last year, the high court of the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, ruled that Bazoum and his family were victims of arbitrary detention and called for their reinstatement to office. The Associated Press journalist Chinedu Asadu contributed to this report from Abuja, Nigeria.
The situation in Niger highlights the challenges faced by countries transitioning from democratic governance to military rule. The impact of these political changes on regional and international security partnerships can have far-reaching consequences. It is essential for the judiciary to uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and transparency in such cases to maintain the credibility of the legal system and protect the rights of all individuals involved.