The African Union (AU) has expressed grave concern over the reported dire conditions of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum’s detention, denouncing the treatment by coup leaders as “unacceptable.”

The head of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, stated that subjecting a democratically elected president, who came to power through a legitimate electoral process, to such treatment is unacceptable.

He highlighted the disturbing decline in conditions faced by Bazoum, who was ousted by military leaders last month.

The deteriorating situation has sparked alarm from other international figures, including EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

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According to CNN, Bazoum is reportedly held in isolation and compelled to consume plain rice and pasta without access to necessary medication.

Faki expressed resolute endorsement for decisions made by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which recently sanctioned the deployment of a standby force to reinstate constitutional order in Niger.

However, an attempt to send a joint delegation comprising representatives from ECOWAS, the UN, and the AU to Niger was rejected by the coup leaders this week.