Niger Coup: Niamey court overturns ​​jail sentence for head of group supporting junta amid military rule; Know what happened

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Niamey court has overturned a nine-month prison sentence that had been imposed on Abdoulaye Seydou, the head of the prominent activist group M62, which had been supporting the ruling military faction. The decision was welcomed by Seydou's associates. Only last month, the landscape of Niger underwent a dramatic transformation when members of the presidential guard staged a coup, wresting control from the existing authorities. This sudden takeover marked a significant disruption in the country's political fabric.

Abdoulaye Seydou, the leader of the M62 group, had been detained for seven months, his confinement relating to a case involving an army air strike targeted at suspected jihadists in the southern region of the nation. The controversy surrounding this situation garnered attention due to its implications for justice and human rights. The Niamey Court of Appeal's recent ruling has nullified the initial decision made by the High Court, which had previously sentenced Abdoulaye Seydou to nine months in prison. Sanoussi Mahaman, the secretary general of the M62 group, expressed their satisfaction with this development, asserting that Seydou's detention had been arbitrary and premeditated, echoing allegations of political manipulation.

Originating just a year ago, the M62 movement emerged as a coalition comprised of approximately ten different groups and non-governmental organizations united in their opposition to the presence of French military forces within Niger. Their efforts to amplify this stance have culminated in recent calls for public demonstrations in support of the officers responsible for the overthrow of the elected