One year after a military coup in Niger, the country’s military authorities have intensified their crackdown on opposition, independent media, and peaceful dissent, as reported by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
These authorities have engaged in arbitrary arrests, targeting former President Mohamed Bazoum, at least 30 officials from the deposed government, individuals associated with the ousted president, and several journalists. Despite pledging to combat corruption, they have obstructed scrutiny of military expenditures. The organizations urge Nigerien authorities to immediately release all political detainees, uphold fundamental freedoms including rights to expression, opinion, and association, and commit publicly to transparency and accountability in managing military spending.
“A year following the military takeover, instead of progressing towards respecting human rights and the rule of law, Niger’s military leadership is increasing pressure on political opponents, civil society, and independent journalists,” stated Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “Nigerien military authorities must free Mohamed Bazoum and all individuals held for political reasons, while ensuring their rights to due process are respected.”
On July 26, 2023, General Abdourahamane Tiani, along with other Nigerien army officers forming the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), overthrew Mohamed Bazoum, who was democratically elected president in 2021. Bazoum, his family, and several cabinet members were arbitrarily detained. In response, on July 30, 2023, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions, including economic restrictions, travel bans, and asset freezes, on the coup leaders and the nation. The African Union suspended Niger from its bodies and activities on August 22, 2023. However, on January 28, 2024, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS, which subsequently lifted sanctions against Niger on February 24.
Since the coup, Mohamed Bazoum and his wife have been held at the presidential palace in Niamey, the capital. The three human rights organizations have consistently raised concerns about their well-being. In August 2023, authorities declared their intention to prosecute Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining national and external security, yet he has not appeared before a judge. In September 2023, Bazoum filed a lawsuit with the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, alleging human rights violations during his and his family’s detention. The ECOWAS Court ruled in December 2023 that Bazoum’s detention was arbitrary and called for his release. In April, authorities initiated legal proceedings to strip Bazoum of his presidential immunity, enabling his trial for alleged crimes committed after his 2021 election. On June 14, 2024, Niger’s State Court lifted his immunity following a process that failed to meet essential due process standards and international fair trial norms, including the right to defense.
Military authorities have also arbitrarily arrested at least 30 individuals from the former government, including ex-ministers, presidential cabinet members, and associates of the former president, without affording them due process or fair trial rights. Lawyers for those arrested reported their clients were held incommunicado by intelligence services before being transferred to high-security prisons on unsubstantiated charges. While at least four were released on bail in April, all others face charges like “undermining state security” from a military court, despite being civilians.
Since the 2023 coup, media freedom has been severely curtailed in Niger. Authorities have threatened, harassed, and arbitrarily arrested journalists, many of whom report self-censorship out of fear of reprisals.
On September 30, individuals identifying as security forces arrested blogger and journalist Samira Sabou at her mother’s home in Niamey. Sabou’s detention location remained unknown for seven days. Niamey judicial police initially denied her arrest, but on October 7, Sabou was transferred to Niamey’s criminal investigation unit, where her lawyer and husband visited her. On October 11, she was charged with “producing and disseminating data likely to disturb public order” and released pending trial, for which no date has been set.
On January 29, the Interior Minister issued a decree suspending the activities of Maison de la Presse, an independent media organization, and announced the formation of a new media management committee 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 criticized the military takeover in a widely shared social media post. In May 2024, he was charged with “conspiracy against state security” and placed in pre-trial detention.
On April 24, security forces apprehended Soumana Maiga, publishing director of L’Enquêteur, after his newspaper republished an article from a French newspaper about alleged Russian surveillance systems installed in official state buildings. He appeared before a judge in May, was detained for undermining national defense, and released on July 9 pending trial.
Tchima Illa Issoufou, a BBC Hausa radio correspondent in Niger, reported receiving threats from security force members who accused her of attempting to “destabilize Niger” due to her reporting on the security situation in the Tillabéri region, 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 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 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 issued a press release announcing amendments to a 2019 cybercrime law. This law, which criminalized “the dissemination, production, and making available to others of data likely to disturb public order or harm human dignity through an information system,” had been used to repress human rights, particularly the right to freedom of online expression, in 2020. In 2022, Mohamed Bazoum’s government, following a sustained civil society campaign, amended the law, replacing prison sentences with fines for defamation-related offenses. However, the June 12 modifications reinstate prison sentences.
“The extensive list of attacks against journalists over the past year underscores the authorities’ determination to restrict press freedom and the right to access information,” explained Drissa Traoré, FIDH Secretary-General. “The amendment to 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 guarantee freedom of expression.”
Both the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Niger in 1986, uphold the rights to freedom of opinion and expression.
On February 23, Abdourahamane Tiani, who vowed to combat corruption after seizing power, signed an order revoking all oversight of military expenditures. The order stipulates that “expenditures for the acquisition of equipment or material or any other supply, the execution of works or services intended for the defense and security forces […] are excluded from the scope of legislation relating to public procurement and public accounting” and are also exempt from taxes. The organizations emphasize that transparency in military budgets and spending is vital for combating corruption and mismanagement. It also contributes to respecting human rights and the rule of law, ensuring proper management of military funds, and fostering government accountability.
“Public scrutiny of the military’s economic activities is not only crucial for restoring a civilian democratic regime and holding military authorities accountable for abuses, but also for preventing the loss of public resources due to corruption and mismanagement,” concluded Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Nigerien authorities should commit to transparency and accountability by immediately disclosing verifiable financial information on military expenditures.”