Eighteen months after the coup d’état on 26 July 2023 that ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum, the military junta, led by the CNSP, is tightening its control over Niger. Forced disappearances, arbitrary imprisonments, crackdowns on independent media, and the banning of political parties are among the many violations documented in a new report by Amnesty International. Released on 18 March, the report, titled “Niger: Threatened and Silenced – Human Rights and Civic Space Under Pressure Since the July 26 Coup,” highlights a worrying decline in civil and political liberties between July 2023 and January 2025. Critics and former government officials face constant threats from a regime that is shrinking civic space and deepening social fractures. Despite the CNSP’s initial claims that the takeover was necessary to address “security degradation” and “poor governance” while promising to uphold the rule of law, those commitments appear to have been abandoned.
The Sahel region has been rocked by chronic instability, with consecutive military takeovers in Mali (2020 and 2021), Burkina Faso (January and September 2022), and finally Niger in July 2023. Facing economic sanctions and the threat of military intervention from ECOWAS, these three juntas formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023. They have since formalised their exit from the regional bloc and severed diplomatic ties with France and the European Union. Continuing this trend of strategic realignment, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali announced on 17 March their withdrawal from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), which had joined calls for the release of Mohamed Bazoum.
The rule of law in jeopardy
Upon taking power, General Abdourahamane Tiani vowed to respect human rights and civil liberties in accordance with Niger’s international obligations. However, a year and a half later, the situation tells a different story. “Despite the assurances provided by the new Nigerien authorities, human rights have been trampled upon in both law and practice,” states Marceau Sivieude, interim regional director for Amnesty International in West and Central Africa. The erosion of the legal framework is particularly striking.
Following the coup, the military suspended the 2010 Constitution and dissolved several vital institutions, including the National Human Rights Commission. While replacements were promised, they have yet to materialise, allowing the CNSP to consolidate both executive and legislative powers. The country is now governed through restrictive ordinances. Among the most contentious moves is the 2024 reinstatement of the 2019 cybercrime law, which allows for the prosecution of citizens for defamation or sharing content deemed disruptive to public order—a vague definition often used to target dissenters.
Furthermore, an August 2024 decree expanded the definition of terrorist offences and authorised the blacklisting of individuals and groups. Those on this list face asset freezes and the potential loss of their Nigerien nationality. Since October 2024, 21 individuals, including several former ministers from the Bazoum administration, have been affected. Hamid Ngadé, a former presidential communications advisor, expressed his despair: “I only hold Nigerien nationality, and this provisional deprivation could leave me stateless. I do not intend to challenge it because the rule of law no longer exists in Niger.” Ousmane Diallo, a Sahel researcher, warns that this ordinance effectively strips citizens of their rights based solely on their political views. In this repressive environment, political pluralism has vanished as parties remain suspended.
A crackdown on civil society and the press
The Nigerien junta is expanding its repressive toolkit, silencing both civil society and the media under the guise of sovereignty and public order. Intelligence services, specifically the DGSE, have been accused of involvement in forced disappearances and prolonged arbitrary detentions. Moussa Tchangari, a prominent civil society leader, was violently arrested at his home in December 2024. After being held in secret for several days, he was charged with defending terrorism and undermining state security, facing a potential ten-year prison sentence.
The regime is also fostering a deep societal divide, categorising citizens as either “patriots” loyal to the junta or “stateless” individuals who dare to criticise its governance. “We are living in a state of exception that poses a massive challenge to civil society organisations. People are terrified to speak out or organise activities that might be seen as critical,” says an NGO leader in Niamey. The once-vibrant platform for civil society is now fragmented and weakened by these divisions.
Journalism under surveillance
Press freedom has also been directly targeted. The Maison de la Presse was suspended in early 2024 and replaced by a government-controlled committee. International outlets like RFI and France 24 were banned shortly after the coup, followed by the BBC in late 2024. Individual journalists are also under fire. Ousmane Toudou and Soumana Maïga were arrested in April 2024 over social media posts and faced military tribunals despite being civilians. Blogger Samira Sabou was also a victim of forced disappearance before being prosecuted under cybercrime laws.
This climate of fear has led to widespread self-censorship. Sources are increasingly unwilling to speak on the record, and journalists must scrutinise every word they publish. “Now, when you write, you have to think twice. There is no one left to protect the press,” one journalist told Amnesty International. Ousmane Diallo emphasises that freedom of expression and a free press are vital for government accountability. However, Niger appears to be moving further away from democracy, with recent national recommendations suggesting a five-year transition that could allow the current military leaders to run in future elections.