A security and defense analyst, Dr. Prosper Addo, fears efforts by the ECOWAS to get Niger’s ousted President Mohammed Bazoum reinstated may suffer a setback.

This comes as the military coup-makers announce prosecuting him for high treason and undermining the security of the country.

The junta on Sunday said they have gathered enough evidence to put him before a competent national or international court to be tried.

The coup leaders’ position come shortly after it indicated its readiness to negotiate with ECOWAS leaders.

“In any event, the government of Niger has gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before the competent national and international authorities.

The ousted President and his local and international accomplices for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger following his exchanges with foreign heads of state and heads of international organizations.

The Niger transitional authority regrets this attitude of a certain international community which insists on showing solidarity with a few politicians of the opposed regime and at the same time lacking in empathy towards the Nigerien population hit hard by illegal, inhumane and immediate sanctions by the ECOWAS,” the Junta stated.

But this seems like a long haul now as Dr. Prosper Addo indicates it may be a long game of denying the ousted president another opportunity at power.

“If ECOWAS was in the position of just restoring this government back just like it happened in Sao Tome and Principe we wouldn’t have been talking for this long but they had simply done it but they can’t do it now Even if they want to do it, it’s going to take time. That is why they need to keep all the options on the table and just keep engaging and find a way of ensuring that this military eventually hands over power.

"I can say for sure that they are digging deep and they are just not going to hand over power yet. They would want to take some hank. They would have appointed people in certain positions for governance purposes so that all give an indication that they would not hand over easily”, Dr. Addo said.