The African Union cut off Niger's participation in the 55-nation bloc due to the military overthrow of Niger’s democratically elected president.
A.U. leaders agreed on Tuesday to immediately suspend the West African nation as a member of the continental organization until the military allows for "the effective restoration of constitutional order in the country."
They also urged all A.U. member nations and the international community "to reject this unconstitutional change of government and to refrain from any action likely to grant legitimacy to the illegal regime in Niger."
The suspension, a typical reaction to Africa's military coups, bars any Nigerien representatives from voting on the A.U.'s proposals or taking part in any of its committees and working groups.
The A.U. and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS' 15 member nations have repeatedly called on Niger's military leaders to step aside rather than risk a regional military confrontation.
They also have protested the poor conditions in which Niger's ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, and members of his family were being detained.
No place for 'rule-by-gun'
The military junta that toppled Bazoum in a July 26 coup has ignored ECOWAS' deadline to restore him to power – and the bloc's threat to intervene with a regional military force.
The A.U.called on the junta's leaders, who were members of the presidential guard, to cooperate with efforts by other African leaders to "fully embrace a peaceful approach towards the restoration of constitutional order in the country."
U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk has urged the coup leaders to reverse their decision by restoring Bazoum as the democratically elected leader and ensuring badly needed food, medicine and other humanitarian aid can enter the country.
“This decision is not only politically motivated against a democratically elected president but has no legal basis as the normal functioning of democratic institutions have been cast aside,” Türk said.
He also protested the military junta's clampdown on journalists and other restrictions impacting freedom of expression and public assembly.
“The very notion of freedoms in Niger is at stake,” said Türk. “Generals cannot take it upon themselves to defy at a whim the will of the people. Rule-by-gun has no place in today’s world.”
