Weaponization of Bazoum’s detention by Niger’s military junta
By Daily Tab24. Updated: 7: 34 pm. Aug 13, 2023.
Those fanning the embers of war in Niger may have exhausted their opportunities to stoke the flames of war, and the last remaining opportunity is the weaponization of Basoum’s detention. They have labeled the detention of Basoum, ‘hostage taking’ and accused the junta of inhuman treatment to stir sympathy and find a loophole to militarily intervene in the country.
Niger’s junta has shown a level of civility with the bloodless coup that deposed the President of the uranium rich sahel country. Detention is the key aspect of coup; if coupists decide to apply caution and avoid bloodshed. While coup is not a good act; executing it without bloodshed deserves commendation, while modalities are put in place to ensure transition.
“Basoum’s detention is important to the mission of the junta” said a pro-Basoum who doesn’t want his name in print “I believe they don’t want any divisive orders or counter-orders. They will release him after the whole thing has settled. if they wanted to kill him, they would have done it, while I support Basoum, I don’t believe in the weaponization of his detention. We can’t set our country up in flames, this thing has happened and we need to apply common sense to make sure it doesn’t escalate beyond this level” He added.
Basoum spoke with US and some human rights organizations, and each opportunity given to him was used against the junta. He has accused the junta of inhuman treatment and there have been alarms of worsening health condition. US and the human rights organization Basoum spoke with echoed those sentiments, while the junta has denied inhuman treatment and smoothly going on with constitution of a new government.
“Basoum had a visit by his doctor” a member of his group told AFP few days ago. The confirmation from Basoum’s camp shows that the junta has been managing the deposed President well and giving him opportunity to basic needs. The member of his camp also said foods and other things the deposed President needed was brought for him.
But external bodies have refused to recognize the efforts of the junta to making sure the deposed president is being taken care of. Speaking on Basoum’s reported condition in detention, UN rights chief Volker Turk said his detention “could amount to inhuman and degrading treatment, in violation of international human rights law” the UN chief failed to take into consideration that Basoum keeps getting medical and other attentions.
The key players in the game of war have raised false alarm with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock saying “coup plotters must face harsh consequences should anything happen” referencing Basoum and his detained family members. While US Secretary of State who started the weaponization said he is “Dismayed” that the junta still holds sway.
US Secretary of State is playing a costly game by trying to blackmail the junta to release Basoum, instead of engage in diplomacy. US have said they are against the coup and would stand by the constitution and elected President of Niger. Anthony Blinken’s call for the junta to release Basoum as a “demonstration of goodwill” is seen as a subtle move to create two governments in Niger.
Another source from the camp of Basoum according to Al Aljazeera said “He is okay but the conditions are very difficult” he said about the detention of Basoum. The source seems to agree that the junta is taking good care of Basoum, but only detaining him to enable them stabilize the country and leverage him.
Human Rights Watch disagreed earlier this week, insisting that information from Basoum points to “inhuman treatment” according to the organization, Basoum said “I am not allowed to receive my family members, my friends who have been bringing food and other supplies to us. My son is sick, has a serious heart condition, and needs to see a doctor. They have refused to let him get medical treatment”
Basoum’s claims according to Human Rights Watch opposed the account of the camp of Basoum who visited him with food and other supplies. It’s clear that Basoum lied or may have deliberately sought to ignite weaponization of his detention.
