The International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) announced on Wednesday the suspension of Niger, where a military regime overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.
The Permanent Council of the OIF, which met on Tuesday in an extraordinary session via videoconference, “announced the suspension of the Republic of Niger” with immediate effect, with the exception of programs “that directly benefit the civilian population and those that contribute to the restoration of democracy.” contribute”. “ said a press release sent to AFP on Wednesday.
The OIF also called for the “immediate and unconditional release of President Mohamed Bazoum” and his family, who are still being held captive in his presidential residence along with his wife Haziza and their son Salem.
La Francophonie also called for the “quick restoration of constitutional order and democracy in Niger” and called on the transition authorities to set “a time-limited timetable for exiting the transition.”
The Paris-based international organization of the Francophonie consists of 88 states and governments with the mission of “promoting the French language and cultural and linguistic diversity,” “peace, democracy and human rights,” or even “supporting education.”
In mid-December, the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which includes Niger, ordered the new Nigerian power to “immediately and unconditionally release” Mr. Bazoum and his family.
However, a few days earlier, ECOWAS had recognized for the first time that Mohamed Bazoum had been “effectively overthrown by a military coup”. If it had announced the suspension of Niger from its “decision-making bodies” until constitutional order was restored in the country, it had immediately resumed communication with the military power in Niamey.