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Niger’s military junta has unveiled a series of cabinet appointments, strengthening its grip on power as it defies west African states who are discussing how to respond to the overthrow of the country’s president as fears for his welfare grow.
The deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, is in detention in his residence, with his supporters saying he has been denied access to fresh food, medicines and a doctor since last week.
The president was surviving on dried pasta and rice in “inhumane” and “cruel” conditions, without running water or electricity, his Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism said.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “concerned” over Bazoum’s health and safety and has called for his “immediate, unconditional release and his reinstatement as head of state”.
Mahamane Roufai Laouali, who was appointed as Niger’s government secretary-general last week, named 21 new ministers on state television on Thursday, a cabinet about half the size of Bazoum’s government.
As the cabinet was announced, leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) were convening in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to outline their next steps after the junta ignored their August 6 deadline to reinstate the pro-western Bazoum.
Ecowas has threatened to use military force if necessary to restore constitutional order, but domestic opposition in Nigeria has severely limited the scope of any possible intervention.
The junta, led by General Omar Tchiani who previously ran Bazoum’s presidential guard, has spurned diplomatic efforts to seek a solution to the unfolding crisis. It refused permission for an African Union and Ecowas convoy to travel to the capital Niamey this week after closing the country’s airspace.
US deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland was also denied a meeting with Tchiani when she held what she described as “difficult” talks in Niamey this week with other junta leaders.
But the junta has since met with Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, a former Nigerian central bank governor and former emir of Kano in northern Nigeria. Sanusi, an influential Islamic leader, met with Tchiani and briefed Nigerian president Bola Tinubu on his return to Abuja, offering a chance for diplomatic talks to continue.
Since the coup last month, Niger has been hit with Ecowas sanctions that have caused the prices of food and basic commodities to rise sharply in the landlocked nation of 25mn people, which is heavily reliant on its neighbours for supplies. Nigeria, which supplies most of Niger’s electricity, has cut off power, leading to lengthy power outages.
A former rebel leader Rhissa Ag Boula on Wednesday announced the formation of an organisation opposed to the coup and dedicated to reinstating Bazoum, the first sign of internal dissent against the coup leaders.
The new cabinet is a mixture of military and civilian figures with three junta leaders appointed to key positions in the defence, interior, and youth and sports ministries. Colonel Amadou Abdramane, who announced the coup on July 26 and has been acting as the junta’s spokesman, will head the ministry of youth and sports. General Salifou Mody, ex-chief of army staff and now number two in the junta, is the defence chief. General Mohamed Toumba was named interior minister.
Bakary Yaou Sangaré, a career diplomat selected by Bazoum in March as Niger’s permanent representative to the UN, will serve as foreign minister.
The cabinet will be led by newly-appointed prime minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, a finance minister for eight years until 2010, who will also double as finance minister.
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