At least 180 members of the deposed democratically elected government have been detained by Niger’s new military authorities, who took power in a coup a few days ago.
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.
According to NAN, N’Gadé reportedly stated that the coup plotters had also detained the interior minister Hama Adamou Souley, deputy transport minister Oumarou Malam Alma, and transport minister Kalla Moutari.
According to N’Gadé, the “abusive arrests” were proof of the military’s “repressive, dictatorial, and unlawful behavior.”
Mohamed Bazoum, the PNDS’s democratically elected president of Niger, was determined to be ineligible for reelection on Wednesday by officers from General Omar Tchiani’s special squad. Later, on Friday, Tchiani declared himself to be the new emperor.
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.
The West African community of nations, or ECOWAS, gave the coup leaders an ultimatum on Sunday, stating that if Bazoum was not freed and put back in office within a week, ECOWAS would take action that might involve using force.
The military governments of Burkina Faso and Mali, two neighboring countries, advised ECOWAS against becoming involved on Monday.
The two transitional administrations jointly declared that any military action against Niger would be deemed a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali.