Since the military takeover on July 26, 2023, the governing authorities in Niger have arbitrarily detained numerous former government officials and stifled independent media outlets and peaceful opposition, as reported by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. These authorities must promptly release all individuals held for politically motivated reasons and ensure adherence to due process safeguards.
On July 26, General Abdourahamane Tiani, alongside other Nigerien army officers forming the self-proclaimed National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), deposed the administration of President Mohamed Bazoum. Following this coup, President Bazoum, his spouse, and their son have been confined within the presidential palace in Niamey, the capital, while other high-ranking officials faced arrest. The new regime has subjected journalists, youth activists, perceived political adversaries, and individuals voicing critical perspectives to threats, harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests.
The arbitrary detentions and infringements on the right to freedom of expression carried out by the authorities are steering Niger towards a perilous path concerning human rights.
Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“Authorities must cease arbitrary detentions, uphold human rights, and safeguard press freedom,” she added.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) responded to the coup by sealing borders between Niger and its member nations on July 30. It also halted commercial and financial dealings with Niger and issued a threat of military intervention should the CNSP fail to reinstate President Bazoum. By August 10, ECOWAS had enacted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, targeting the coup leaders and the nation itself. On August 22, the African Union suspended Niger from participating in its various bodies and operations, though it adopted a cautious stance on potential West African military action, advocating instead for a peaceful resolution to restore constitutional governance.
On October 11, Nigerien authorities issued a 72-hour ultimatum for United Nations Resident Coordinator, Louise Aubin, to depart the country. They accused UN Secretary-General António Guterres of “sabotage” for Niger’s exclusion from the UN General Assembly in September.
Following the coup, the authorities have arbitrarily apprehended several officials from the previous administration, including Sani Mahamadou Issoufou, the former Oil Minister; Hamadou Adamou Souley, former Interior Minister; Kalla Moutari, former Defense Minister; and Ahmad Jidoud, former Finance Minister. In September, these individuals were relocated to prisons in Filingué Say, Kollo in the Tillaberi region, and Niamey. They were subsequently charged with undermining state security before a military tribunal, despite being civilians, a move that contravenes due process protections. Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch classify these detentions as arbitrary, citing political motivations.
Human Rights Watch has voiced apprehension regarding the welfare of Mohamed Bazoum and his family. Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have urged authorities to guarantee their safety and uphold their human rights. On August 13, the authorities declared their intent to prosecute Bazoum for “high treason” and endangering national security, yet he has not appeared before a judge. On September 18, Mohamed Bazoum lodged an appeal with the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria, citing human rights violations against himself and his family during his detention. He also sought immediate reinstatement as Niger’s president. Subsequently, on October 3, Salem Mohamed Bazoum, the son of the ousted president, challenged the legality of his own detention before the Niamey High Court. The court mandated his release on October 6; however, the CNSP has yet to implement this ruling. A press release issued by Bazoum’s lawyers on October 20 asserted that he, his wife, and his son were being held incommunicado, refuting military leaders’ claims of an escape attempt.
Media organization personnel and journalists have informed Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International that since the coup, they have encountered escalating pressure in their work, coupled with intimidation, including threats of violence and surveillance from government agents and other individuals.
In the aftermath of the coup, both local and international journalists have faced threats, online verbal harassment, and physical assaults. On August 3, the CNSP indefinitely suspended the international news broadcasters Radio France Internationale and France 24.
“Self-censorship has become a survival tactic for many of us, especially those who have distanced themselves from the new authorities’ views and actions,” a Nigerien journalist confided to Human Rights Watch. “Journalists are opting not to cover sensitive topics such as human rights.”
On September 30, individuals identifying as security forces apprehended blogger and journalist Samira Sabou at her mother’s home in Niamey. “Men in civilian clothes, claiming to be security forces, came to arrest Samira,” her husband recounted to Amnesty International. “They placed a hood over her head and took her away.” Samira Sabou’s whereabouts remained unknown for seven days. Initially, the Niamey judicial police denied her arrest, but on October 7, she was transferred to the Niamey police’s criminal investigation department, where her lawyer and husband visited her. By October 11, she was charged with “producing and disseminating data likely to disturb public order” and subsequently released pending trial.
Samira Sabou has a history of arrests linked to her journalistic endeavors. In 2022, she received a one-month suspended sentence for her reporting on drug trafficking in Niger, and in 2020, she endured arbitrary detention for 48 days on cybercrime allegations.
The authorities have actively suppressed dissenting voices. Through an August 22 decree, Tiani, Niger’s military leader, announced the unexplained dismissal of six academics and state officials. The day prior, these individuals, along with other academics, had signed a petition distancing themselves from an August 1 statement by the National Union of Teachers and Researchers, which had endorsed the CNSP. On October 3, social media user Samira Ibrahim, known as “Precious Mimi,” received a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 300,000 CFA francs (US$480) for “producing data likely to disturb public order.” Her indictment stemmed from a Facebook post referencing Algeria’s refusal to acknowledge Niger’s new government.
Following the coup, CNSP supporters, at times organized into self-defense committees, perpetrated acts of violence against members of Bazoum’s party, the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya), and other groups. These violent incidents may have been exacerbated by political tensions surrounding a potential military intervention by ECOWAS.
On July 27, pro-government supporters ransacked and set fire to the PNDS headquarters in Niamey. They also torched dozens of vehicles and physically assaulted several party members gathered at the premises. “A young man hit me with a stick, while another grabbed my breasts,” a woman reported. Witnesses indicated that security forces failed to take appropriate action to prevent the violence.
In August, young members of self-defense groups backing the coup sexually assaulted several women during unauthorized patrols at major roundabouts in Niamey, according to police and the Nigerien Women’s Rights League. At least four victims filed complaints with the Nigerien police against their attackers, but no one has yet been charged for these offenses.
The CNSP has suspended Niger’s constitution, yet it pledged to uphold the rule of law, “pluralistic democracy,” and the rights and freedoms enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Niger is a signatory, explicitly guarantees freedom of expression and prohibits arbitrary arrest or detention.
“Niger stands at a critical juncture,” remarked Ousmane Diallo, Sahel researcher at Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa regional office.
Freedom of expression, dissent, and press freedom are fundamental to the enjoyment of other rights and to ensuring government accountability. The transitional military authorities must act decisively to halt the escalating threats, harassment, intimidation, arrests, and violence targeting Nigerien journalists, media organizations, and opposition figures, and implement effective measures to respect, protect, promote, and fulfill the rights of everyone in the country.
Ousmane Diallo, Sahel researcher at Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa regional office