In a concerning development, the lawyer for Niger's ousted President Mohamed Bazoum has expressed fear that his client could face the death penalty. As the country commemorates one year since the coup that removed Bazoum from power, Niger's top court recently stripped him of his immunity from prosecution, potentially paving the way for him to be tried for treason and other alleged offenses punishable by death.

For the past year, Mohamed Bazoum, 64, and his wife Hadiza have been held in detention with limited communication privileges. They have had no access to telephones, and apart from visits from a doctor, they have not been allowed any other visitors, as stated by their lawyer, Moussa Coulibaly.

France, the former colonial power, recently demanded the release of Bazoum and his wife. However, the junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, delivered a defiant televised address rejecting external interference in Niger's affairs. Tiani emphasized that no state or foreign organization could dictate how Niger should behave.

The joint report by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Federation for Human Rights highlights the arbitrary detention of at least 30 former government officials and individuals with close links to Bazoum, along with several journalists. It suggests that the rule of law is no longer upheld in Niger.

According to Coulibaly, the lifting of Bazoum's immunity implies that he will face judgment by a special court that might lack independence and impartiality. If convicted, Bazoum could potentially face the death penalty by shooting.

Gen Tiani's recent speech not only targeted his own citizens, but also France. He emphasized Niger's inexorable march towards full sovereignty and rejected any external influence on the country's strategic or diplomatic partnerships.

Niger's new military rulers have chosen to align themselves with Russia after severing defense and diplomatic ties with France. They came to power promising enhanced security. Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have recently formed a new security alliance and withdrawn from the wider West African bloc, Ecowas.

Rights groups claim that since the military assumed power, Niger has witnessed a crackdown on independent media and peaceful dissent. Reporters Without Borders warns that the wider Sahel region, mostly under military juntas, is turning into a "no-news zone."

In a separate development, the United States has announced plans to withdraw its remaining 1,000 troops from Niger by August, a month earlier than originally scheduled. The US had been using Niger as its primary base for monitoring regional jihadist activity until recent tensions with the new administration led to the termination of the agreement.

As Niger marks one year since the coup, concerns grow over the fate of Mohamed Bazoum and the erosion of democratic processes and human rights in the country. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely while advocates raise alarm over the potential violation of fundamental values and principles.