The ECOWAS Court of Justice orders the release of Mohamed Bazoum and his return to power

Published on: 12/15/2023 – 10:55

2 minutes

Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)Economic Community of West African States) Orders the immediate and unconditional release of Mohamed Bazoum, his wife and his son.

The judge finds that many of their rights have been violated: the right to come and go, as they have been detained at the presidential headquarters for more than 4 months; The right not to be subjected to arbitrary arrest and detention.

West African Justice also considers that the political rights of Mohamed Bazoum have been violated: it calls for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger and the handover of state power to the ousted president.

Defending the state Niger It asked the court to declare its lack of jurisdiction and to declare the request inadmissible. Therefore, the applications were rejected.

Judges rule according to the law, but the decisions of the ECOWAS Court of Justice are not always followed up. Mohamed Bazoum’s lawyers believe that it is up to the member states of the organization to ensure the implementation of this court decision. But if ECOWAS continues to demand the release of the ousted president, it has now registered the coup.

The ECOWAS Court of Justice set the new Nigerian authorities a deadline of one month, from the date of notification, to report on the implementation of its decision.

Read alsoThe Economic Community of West African States officially recognizes the coup in Niger and wants to start discussions