Niger’s press freedom crisis: six journalists face unjust prosecutions
On November 2, 2025, judicial authorities in Niamey, Niger’s capital, arrested six journalists in a blatant violation of press freedom. Three were arbitrarily detained, sparking condemnation from global human rights organizations. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), through the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, have vehemently denounced this judicial harassment and demanded the immediate, unconditional release of the detained journalists.
The crackdown targets prominent figures in Nigerien media, including:
- Moussa Kaka – Former Radio France Internationale (RFI) correspondent and current director of Radio-télévision Saraounia (RTS)
- Abdoul Aziz Idé – Journalist at RTS’s Zarma service
- Ibro Chaibou – Host of the “Club de la Presse” and RTS news editor
- Youssouf Seriba – Founder and editor of Échos du Niger
- Oumarou Kané – Editor of the satirical weekly Le Hérisson
- Souleymane Brah – Editor of La Voix du Peuple
These journalists were charged with “complicity in disseminating information liable to disrupt public order” under Niger’s Cybercrime Law (No. 2019-33 of July 3, 2019), amended by Ordinance 2024-28 of June 7, 2024. Convictions could lead to sentences of two to five years in prison.
Arbitrary detention and flawed legal proceedings
Following their arrest, three journalists—Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Seriba, and Oumarou Kané—were remanded in custody at the high-security prison of Kollo, located about 50 km south of Niamey. Meanwhile, Moussa Kaka, Abdoul Aziz Idé, and Souleymane Brah were released on bail after lengthy interrogations, though the charges against them remain pending.
The arrests stem from a Facebook post inviting Radio-télévision Saraounia to cover a press conference organized by the Solidarity Fund for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (FSSP)—a government-backed initiative collecting mandatory financial contributions from employees, NGOs, and citizens to fund military operations against armed groups. The FSSP’s legitimacy is widely contested, and critical coverage of its activities has been met with repression.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders asserts that merely publishing or discussing an invitation cannot constitute a crime under Nigerien law, nor can it justify accusations of “disrupting public order.” The charges appear to be a pretext to silence dissenting voices, violating both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, Article 19) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Article 9).
A history of repression against journalists
This is not the first time Moussa Kaka has faced persecution for his work. In 2007, under former President Mamadou Tandja, he was charged with “complicity in undermining state authority” for his journalistic contacts with the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ). He was released in 2008 after international outcry. RFI, where Kaka previously worked, was shut down by Nigerien authorities in August 2023.
The current judicial harassment occurs against a backdrop of shrinking civic space in Niger since the July 27, 2023, military coup. Since then, authorities have systematically violated fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, assembly, and association. Arbitrary arrests and detentions of activists, such as Moussa Tchangari—held for nearly a year—have become alarmingly common.
Other recent cases include the detention of journalists Hamid Mahmoud, Mahaman Sani, and Massaouda Jaharou from Sahara FM in Agadez. They were arrested in May 2025 for reporting on alleged intelligence cooperation breakdowns between Niger, Russia, and Turkey. While Massaouda Jaharou was later released, Mahmoud and Sani remain imprisoned under charges of “threatening national defense” and “conspiracy against state authority.”
Calls for justice and legal reform
The Observatory urges Nigerien authorities to:
- Immediately release Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Seriba, Oumarou Kané, Hamid Mahmoud, and Mahaman Sani.
- Drop all charges against Moussa Kaka, Abdoul Aziz Idé, Souleymane Brah, and Massaouda Jaharou.
- Reform the Cybercrime Law to align with international human rights standards, particularly ICCPR Article 19 and the African Charter (Article 9).
The 2024 amendment to the Cybercrime Law, which reintroduced prison sentences for offenses such as defamation and “public order disruptions,” has been widely criticized. Human rights defenders fear the law will be weaponized to suppress dissent, as seen in the current cases.
Niger’s slide toward authoritarianism demands urgent action. The international community must hold authorities accountable to protect the fundamental right to free expression and ensure a free and independent press.
