The UN condemns the military who seized power “on a whim” in Niger, where “the very concept of freedom is at stake”
“Generals cannot be usurped -on a whim- the will of the people. Gun law has no place in today’s world,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement.
Turk emphasizes that the election of Mohamed Barzoum in 2021, who is currently held by the military that has seized power, constitutes “the first democratic transition in the history of the country, marked by coups”.
The High Commissioner is also concerned about the Niger junta’s decision to charge Mohamed Barzoum and other officials with high treason.
“The decision is not only politically motivated against a democratically elected president, but lacks legal foundation since the normal functioning of democratic institutions has been impeded.”
Turk calls on generals to release Mohamed Barzoum and “immediately restore constitutional order”.
He also called for “free and comprehensive access to humanitarian aid” in Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, extremely vulnerable to climate change and at the mercy of violence by various armed jihadist groups.
Source :Skai
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