A human rights group in Niger says it can’t get access to officials who were detained after coup

By SAM MEDNICK
Associated Press

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Human rights activists in Niger say they have been unable to gain access to top political officials who were detained after mutinous soldiers ousted the African nation’s democratically elected president. The executive secretary of a Nigerien human rights groups says the military officers who carried out a coup against President Mohamed Bazoum nearly three weeks ago they also arrested several former government ministers and other political leaders, but requests to check on their well-being have gone unanswered. A spokesperson for the ruling junta has said the detained officials were being treated humanely. The junta says it plans to prosecute Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state security, crimes that are eligible for the death penalty.