Niger Coup: Ousted President Bazoum Faces High Treason Charges, Junta Announces

Niger's military junta plans to charge deposed President Mohamed Bazoum with high treason and undermining national security, defying international pressure to return power to him. The junta's decision has been met with shock and dismay from the West African regional bloc Ecowas and the US State Department. Concerns are growing about the health and well-being of Bazoum and his family, who have been held captive since the coup. Ecowas has threatened military action to reverse the coup but has not yet followed through. The junta has warned it will defend itself against any intervention.