Title: The State of Niger facing West African justice: The request of the deposed president examined by the ECOWAS Court of Justice
Introduction :
In the context of a military coup that occurred in Niger three months ago, the ECOWAS Court of Justice examined the request of the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, who demands his immediate release as well as that of his family and the return to the constitutional order. This case raises important questions about human rights and political stability in the region.
Development :
The Bazoum family’s lawyers argued their dual request by video link from Dakar. They highlighted the fact that Mohamed Bazoum, his wife Hadiza and their son Salem are victims of arbitrary detention in violation of Article 6 of the African Charter on Human Rights, a violation that the Court of Justice of ECOWAS is supposed to protect. They also highlighted that the coup d’état of July 26 prevented Mohamed Bazoum from exercising his functions as president, which constitutes a serious attack on good political governance.
Florence Loan, Ivorian defense lawyer for the deposed president, insisted on the importance of ensuring respect for the legal texts of the West African community. According to her, it is crucial that the ECOWAS Court of Justice takes a firm and courageous decision to declare the unconstitutional changes as illegal. This would help deter any coup attempts in the region.
For his part, the Niger State lawyer described the Bazoum family’s request as “inadmissible.” He affirms that the family is not sequestered but kept at home for their safety. He also argued that the ECOWAS Court of Justice has no jurisdiction to restore constitutional order in a country.
Conclusion :
The decision of the ECOWAS Court of Justice will be rendered on November 30. This case highlights issues related to human rights and political stability in the region. The Court’s decision will have a significant impact on respect for constitutional order and the fight against coup attempts in West Africa.