Nine officials of the Nigerien civil regime overthrown in July 2023 are “temporarily down” of their nationality, suspects in particular “intelligence with a foreign power” and of “conspiracy against state authority”the military government announced on Thursday, October 10.
General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the junta, “signed today Thursday [10 octobre] a decree of loss of nationality of certain persons for various crimes provided for and punished by law.”the government indicated in a press release.
Among the nine men “temporarily deprived of Nigerian nationality” Among them are Generals Mahamadou Abou Tarka, of the High Authority for Peacebuilding, and Karingama Wali Ibrahim, former head of the presidential guard. Daouda Djibo Takoubakoye, deputy chief of staff to ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, as well as his security adviser Rhissa Ag Boula, are also concerned, along with presidential advisers.
The nine people are “particular suspect” of “carry out activities that may disturb public peace and security” AND “intelligence with a foreign power with a view to inciting it to undertake hostilities against the State” or in “facilitate the penetration of foreign forces into Nigerien territory”explains the government. they are also “suspicious” of “participation in an enterprise to demoralize the army” and of “dissemination of data or comments that may alter public order”duck.
“Considered on the run”
The government specifies that it is acting in accordance with an order signed at the end of August that allowed the creation of a file of people or entities “involved in acts of terrorism or any other crimes that affect the strategic and/or fundamental interests of the nation”. A text denounced by the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) as a “impediment” to fundamental rights.
In September 2023, the military regime launched wanted notices against around twenty figures from the overthrown government, including the prime minister, Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, the head of diplomacy, Hassoumi Massoudou, and some people targeted by the confiscation measure. provisional nationality.
According to the gendarmerie search warrant, these people are “He is considered a fugitive” and searched for his alleged “participation in a case of treason and conspiracy aimed at undermining the security and authority of the State”after the coup d’état of July 26, 2023.
Some of these personalities were outside Niger during the coup, others managed to leave the country afterwards. Since his overthrow, Mohamed Bazoum remains imprisoned with his wife Hadiza in his presidential residence.
