Since the military takeover in July 2023, the state of human rights in Niger has experienced a persistent decline. Throughout 2025, the ruling military authorities continued to target political rivals, activists, union leaders, and members of the media. The junta has maintained the unlawful imprisonment of former President Mohamed Bazoum and his wife, along with various officials from the previous administration, journalists, and advocates for civil liberties.
Niger remains caught in a violent struggle against several armed Islamist factions, such as the Islamic State in the Sahel (ISS), the Al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen (JNIM), Boko Haram, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Conflict has intensified in the western Tillabéri region and along the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, significantly increasing the peril faced by local populations.
In August, the military leadership introduced a program known as “Garkuwar Kassa” (Shields of the Homeland). This initiative aims to enlist and train civilians to bolster the national armed forces, a move that has raised significant alarms regarding the potential for militia-driven human rights violations.
In March, the head of the junta, Abdourahamane Tiani, was inaugurated as the transitional president for a five-year term without the holding of public elections, further cementing military rule. Abdourahamane Tiani also issued a decree that effectively dismantled the multi-party political system across Niger.
Earlier in the year, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a move that restricts the ability of citizens to seek legal redress through the ECOWAS Court of Justice. By September, these three nations also declared their intention to exit the International Criminal Court (ICC), a decision that threatens to block justice for victims of war crimes and atrocities.
Violent acts by Islamist militant groups
The Islamist insurgency, which began in northern Mali in 2012 before spreading to Niger and Burkina Faso, has caused over a decade of widespread abuse. In 2025, the ISS escalated its operations against civilians in the Tillabéri zone, conducting summary executions of hundreds of villagers and worshippers while looting and burning homes.
On March 21, ISS militants stormed a mosque in Fambita, killing at least 46 people during afternoon prayers, including three children. The attackers also stole livestock and set fire to numerous homes and market stalls. A similar raid occurred on May 13 in the hamlet of Dani Fari, where seven people were killed and a dozen homes were destroyed.
Tragedy struck again on June 21 in Manda, where over 70 worshippers, including five children, were massacred during morning prayers. In late June, the village of Abarkaize saw its 67-year-old leader executed, followed by the kidnapping and brutal murder of five other men. Another attack in Ezzak on June 23 left at least six civilians dead.
Survivors reported that these attacks were often preceded by threats from militants demanding the “zakat” (Islamic tax) or accusing locals of aiding the Niger military. Many residents expressed frustration that the national army failed to respond to their pleas for protection despite clear warnings of impending violence.
Suppression of political dissent
Since the 2023 coup, Mohamed Bazoum and his wife have been held in isolation at the presidential palace in Niamey. Their legal immunity was revoked in 2024 through a process widely criticized for lacking transparency and fairness. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has formally categorized their imprisonment as unlawful and demanded their immediate release.
The junta has also detained dozens of former government figures and associates of the ousted president without guaranteeing their right to a fair trial. While approximately 50 detainees were granted a partial release in April, many remain behind bars for political reasons. Among them is Moussa Tiangari, a prominent human rights defender arrested in December 2024.
Moussa Tiangari faces grave charges, including “conspiracy against the state in league with enemy powers,” which could result in a death sentence. Despite his lawyers’ efforts to have the politically motivated case dismissed, Niamey courts have allowed the prosecution to proceed, and he remains in pre-trial detention without having seen a judge.
Crackdown on media and association
Press freedom has been severely compromised since the transition to military rule. Journalists in Niger face constant threats and arbitrary arrests, leading many to adopt self-censorship to avoid government retaliation. In January, the private station Canal 3 TV was suspended for 30 days after a broadcast criticized the performance of government ministers.
In a surprising move in February 2025, the military authorities expelled the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from the country without providing a justification. Later in May, three journalists from Sahara FM in Agadez were arrested for reporting on the alleged end of security cooperation between Niger, Russia, and Turkey. They remain in custody.
Labor rights have also come under fire. In August, the Minister of the Interior, Mohamed Toumba, dissolved four judicial unions, claiming they had strayed from their professional roles. This move has been met with fierce opposition from the Union of Workers’ Trade Unions of Niger and the national bar association, the latter of which organized a two-day general strike to protest the erosion of judicial independence and freedom of association.
