Amnesty International has voiced profound alarm over the enforced disappearance of Samira Sabou, a prominent Nigerien journalist and blogger. Following her abduction by masked individuals claiming to be security operatives from her Niamey home on September 30, Ousmane Diallo, a Sahel researcher with Amnesty’s regional office for West and Central Africa, has urgently called for action.
We are deeply troubled by Samira Sabou’s enforced disappearance and demand that the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) immediately disclose her whereabouts and ensure her swift, unconditional release. If authorities genuinely do not know where she is detained, they must investigate and discover this without delay. Each passing day is another violation of Samira Sabou’s right to liberty and a fair trial, and increases her risk of torture or other ill-treatment.
Ousmane Diallo, Sahel researcher, Amnesty International West and Central Africa regional office
Ms. Sabou is a dedicated human rights advocate and a vocal critic of corruption. It is highly probable that her enforced disappearance is directly linked to her robust activism and her recent criticisms regarding arbitrary arrests orchestrated by the CNSP.
“Niger is a signatory to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. We implore the CNSP to honor its human rights commitments under both national and international statutes, which include the prohibition of enforced disappearances and the protection of freedom of expression and press freedom. We further urge them to respect and safeguard human rights defenders, whose entitlements are guaranteed by Articles 4, 6, and 7 of the June 2022 law pertaining to the rights and duties of human rights defenders, in addition to international legal frameworks.”
Further details
Samira Sabou is not only a journalist and activist but also presides over the association of bloggers in Niger. On September 30, 2023, she was taken from her mother’s residence in Niamey by several masked men who identified themselves as members of the security forces. These individuals displayed their professional credentials and insisted Samira accompany them into a vehicle. She was then blindfolded and transported to an undisclosed location, unknown to her family or legal counsel. Since her apprehension, neither her family nor her lawyer has been able to contact her or ascertain her destination. Curiously, the criminal investigation department of the Niamey police claims no knowledge of this incident.
This incident is not isolated, as other violations against individuals exercising their right to freedom of expression have recently been documented.
For instance, on October 3, Samira Ibrahim, a social media personality known as “Precious Mimi,” received a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 300,000 CFA francs (approximately 479 USD). Her conviction was for “producing data likely to disturb public order,” stemming from a Facebook post that referred to Algeria’s non-recognition of the new Nigerien government.