Niger’s highest court has lifted the immunity of the country’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, nearly a year after he was overthrown by mutinous soldiers, according to his lawyer.
This decision allows the military junta to prosecute him for alleged high treason.
Since a military coup overthrew his government last summer, Mr. Bazoum and his family have been under house arrest. The junta has accused him of high treason and undermining national security.
Earlier this year, they initiated legal proceedings to lift his immunity in a newly established state court, now the country’s highest judicial authority.
Before his ousting, Niger was the West’s last major security partner in the Sahel, a region plagued by Islamic extremist groups.
The legal process in the state court has faced significant criticism, with Human Rights Watch (HRW) highlighting violations of Mr. Bazoum’s rights to present evidence, communicate with legal counsel, and be heard before an independent court.
According to HRW, Mr. Bazoum’s lawyers have been unable to communicate with him since last October and have had limited access to case materials.
The highest court of the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, ruled late last year that Mr. Bazoum and his family were being detained arbitrarily and called for his reinstatement.
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