The African Union (AU) disclosed it was holding a meeting on Monday concerning the security situation in Niger Republic after the July 26 coup that ousted President Mohammed Bazoum.
The pan-African bloc made the statement adding that the “AU’s Peace and Security Council meets to receive an update on the evolution of the situation in Niger and the efforts to address it.”
It said the meeting was taking place at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital with attendants to include Commissioner of the AU, Chief Moussa Faki Mahamat, along with country representatives of Niger and ECOWAS member States.
The AU had indicated its “deep concern” over the alleged poor conditions of Bazoum’s detainment, describing his treatment at the hands of the junta leaders “unacceptable”.
“Such treatment of a democratically elected president through a regular electoral process is unacceptable,” AU Commission Chairman said, adding that “concordant sources attest to a worrying deterioration” of conditions.
Faki also voiced his “strong support” for the decisions adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Thursday to approve the deployment of a standby force in its bid to restore Niger to civilian rule.
The United States has also backed the efforts of the West African bloc to resolve the crisis.
Niger’s military led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, had condemned the ECOWAS for the economic sanctions imposed on West African State and pledged to prosecute the ousted President for high treason.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell have also condemned the reported worsening conditions of Bazoum and his family.
A CNN report on Wednesday said the President Bazoum was being detained in isolation and forced to eat plain rice and pasta, without access to health supplies.
The junta had rejected an attempt to send an envoy of the ECOWAS, UN, and AU to Niger’s capital Niamey.
Tchiani on Monday said the intent of the coup was to thwart the threat in the region.
The 65-year-old President and his family have been detained at his official residence since the coup without fresh food and electricity, according to reports.
