West Africa court orders reinstatement of ousted Niger leader Bazoum
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Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum gives a statement before talks at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, July 8, 2021. Bernd von Jutrczenka/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
NIAMEY - A West African court on Friday ruled that the ousted president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, and his family were arbitrarily detained and called for his reinstatement.
Bazoum was toppled during a military coup on July 26 and has since been in detention with his family.
The coup was widely condemned and prompted sanctions from West Africa's main political and economic bloc, the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), amid widespread calls for a return to democratic rule.
The ECOWAS Court of Justice on Friday ordered Niger's junta to re-establish constitutional order through Bazoum's reinstatement.
The judge, Gberi-Be Ouattara, called for his immediate and unconditional release. REUTERS
