Niger’s top court lifts immunity of ex-president Bazoum, paving way for prosecution

Niger’s top court has lifted the immunity of the country’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, thus opening door for the country’s junta-ruled government to prosecute him for alleged ‘high treason’.

Abdou Dan Galadima, president of the State Court, Niger’s highest legal authority that had been created by the military government, announced the decision on Friday (14 June), nearly a year after Bazoum was overthrown by mutinous soldiers. The junta-led government had initiated the legal proceedings earlier this year, declaring their intention to eventually prosecute the ex-president for “high treason” and for undermining national security.

Human Rights Watch had denounced the proceedings, saying the State Court has been marred by serious irregularities, prompting Bazoum’s lawyer, Reed Brody, to criticize the ruling as a “mockery” of the rule of law in Niger. “This is a travesty of justice.”

Bazoum and his family have been under house arrest since a military coup that overthrew his rule last July. While under house arrest, Bazoum is accused of having spoken by telephone with French President Emmanuel Macron and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a bid to secure Western support during the July 2023 coup. In December last year, the ECOWAS highest court ruled that Bazoum and his family were arbitrarily detained and called for him to be reinstated to office.

Niger’s junta subsequently pulled the country out of the West African grouping, booted out France’s military and ordered the US troops to leave as well.