(Nairobi) – A full year since seizing power, Niger’s military authorities have systematically suppressed opposition voices, independent media, and peaceful dissent, according to a joint statement released today by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
The junta has carried out arbitrary detentions of former President Mohamed Bazoum, along with at least 30 officials from the deposed administration and individuals connected to the ousted leader, as well as several journalists. Despite their public pledges to combat corruption, the authorities have obstructed any oversight of military expenditures. These actions underscore a critical need for the Nigerien authorities to immediately release all individuals held for political reasons, uphold fundamental freedoms including the rights to expression, opinion, and association, and publicly commit to transparency and accountability in managing military spending.
« Twelve months on from the military takeover, instead of progressing towards respect for human rights and the rule of law, Niger’s military leadership has intensified its crackdown on political opposition, civil society, and independent news outlets », stated Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. « Nigerien military authorities must free Mohamed Bazoum and all political detainees, ensuring their rights to due process are fully respected. »
On July 26, 2023, General Abdourahamane Tiani, alongside other Nigerien army officers forming the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), orchestrated the overthrow of Mohamed Bazoum, who was democratically elected president in 2021. Bazoum, his family, and several cabinet members were subsequently subjected to arbitrary detention. In response to the coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on July 30, 2023, which included economic restrictions, travel bans, and asset freezes targeting the coup leaders and the nation at large. The African Union further suspended Niger from all its bodies, institutions, and activities on August 22, 2023. However, on January 28, 2024, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS, leading to the regional bloc lifting its sanctions against Niger on February 24.
Since the coup, Mohamed Bazoum and his spouse have remained confined within the presidential palace in Niamey, the capital. The three human rights organizations have consistently voiced concerns regarding their welfare. In August 2023, the authorities declared their intention to prosecute Mohamed Bazoum for « high treason » and endangering national security, yet he has not been brought before a judge. In September 2023, Bazoum initiated legal proceedings at the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, citing human rights violations during his family’s detention. By December 2023, the ECOWAS Court ruled that Bazoum’s detention was arbitrary and called for his immediate release. In April, the authorities commenced a legal process to revoke Bazoum’s presidential immunity, aiming to try him for alleged offenses committed after his 2021 election. On June 14, 2024, Niger’s State Court lifted his immunity following proceedings that failed to meet essential due process standards and international fair trial norms, including the right to defense.
The military authorities have also arbitrarily arrested at least 30 former government officials, including ex-ministers, presidential cabinet members, and individuals associated with the former president. These detentions have occurred without adherence to due process or fair trial rights. Lawyers representing the arrested individuals reported that their clients were initially held incommunicado by intelligence services before being transferred to high-security prisons on unsubstantiated charges. While at least four have been granted bail in April, all others face accusations of « undermining state security », among other offenses, by a military tribunal, despite being civilians.
Since the 2023 coup, media freedom within the country has been severely curtailed. Authorities have subjected journalists to threats, harassment, and arbitrary arrests, compelling many to resort to self-censorship out of fear of reprisals.
On September 30, individuals identifying themselves as security forces apprehended Samira Sabou, a blogger and journalist, at her mother’s residence in Niamey. Sabou’s whereabouts remained unknown for seven days. Niamey’s judicial police initially denied her arrest, but on October 7, she was transferred to the criminal investigation unit of the Niamey police, where her lawyer and husband were finally permitted to visit her. On October 11, she was charged with « producing and disseminating data likely to disturb public order » and subsequently released pending trial, though no trial date has yet been set.
On January 29, the Minister of Interior issued a decree suspending the activities of the Maison de la Presse, an independent media organization, and announced the formation of a new media management committee to be led by the Interior Ministry’s secretary-general.
On April 13, security forces arrested Ousmane Toudou, a journalist and former communications advisor to the ousted president. In the days following the July 2023 coup, Toudou had publicly condemned the military takeover via a widely circulated social media post. In May 2024, he was charged with « conspiracy against state security » and placed in provisional detention.
On April 24, security forces detained Soumana Maiga, the publishing director of L’Enquêteur, after his newspaper republished an article from a French newspaper concerning the alleged installation of wiretapping systems by Russian agents on official state buildings. He appeared before a judge in May, was held for undermining national defense, and was released on July 9 pending trial.
Tchima Illa Issoufou, a BBC Hausa correspondent in Niger, reported receiving threats from members of the security forces, who accused her of attempting to « destabilize Niger » due to her reporting on the security situation in the Tillabéri region of western Niger, where armed Islamist groups conduct attacks against civilians and security forces. « I was attacked by junta supporters on social media », she explained to Amnesty International in May after fleeing Niger for another country. « They accused me of working under foreign influence. » On April 26, security forces arrested Ali Tera, a civil society activist whom Tchima Illa Issoufou had interviewed.
On May 29, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights issued a circular suspending all visits by human rights organizations to Nigerien prisons « until further notice ». This action violates both national and international human rights law, including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which Niger ratified in 1988.
On June 12, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights released a press statement announcing amendments to a 2019 cybercrime law. This law, which criminalized « the dissemination, production, and provision to others of data likely to disturb public order or harm human dignity through an information system », was previously used to suppress human rights, particularly the right to online freedom of expression in 2020. In 2022, Mohamed Bazoum’s government, following a sustained civil society campaign, modified the law to replace prison sentences with fines for defamation-related offenses. However, the June 12 amendments reinstate custodial sentences.
« The extensive record of attacks against journalists over the past year underscores the authorities’ resolve to curb press freedom and the right to access information », explained Drissa Traoré, Secretary General of the FIDH. « The revision of the 2019 cybercrime law represents a dangerous regression and could be exploited to silence any perceived dissenting voices, and certainly to further target human rights defenders, activists, and journalists. Nigerien authorities must reverse this decision and uphold freedom of expression. »
The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both ratified by Niger in 1986, explicitly safeguard the rights to freedom of opinion and expression.
On February 23, Abdourahamane Tiani, who had previously pledged to fight corruption upon taking power, signed an ordinance that eliminated all oversight of military expenditures. The ordinance specifies that « expenses for the acquisition of equipment or material or any other supplies, the execution of works or services intended for the defense and security forces […] are excluded from the scope of public procurement and public accounting legislation » and are also tax-exempt. Transparency regarding military budgets and spending is vital for combating corruption and mismanagement. Furthermore, it contributes to upholding human rights and the rule of law, ensuring proper allocation of military funds, and promoting government accountability, as highlighted by the organizations.
« Public scrutiny of the military’s economic activities is not only crucial for re-establishing a democratic civilian government and holding military authorities accountable for abuses, but also for preventing the depletion of public resources due to corruption and mismanagement », concluded Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Sahel Researcher at Human Rights Watch. « Nigerien authorities must demonstrate commitment to transparency and accountability by immediately disclosing verifiable financial information on military spending. »
