Press freedom in Niger is at risk as transitional authorities intimidate and arbitrarily arrest journalists reporting on the country’s conflict and security issues, Amnesty International said today.
Since the coup d’état of July 26, 2023, during which the commander of the presidential guard, Abdourahamane Tchiani, arrested President Mohamed Bazoum and was proclaimed president of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland which is leading the transition, the Press freedom is restricted and journalists self-censor for fear of intimidation and reprisals.
“This contempt for the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press, as well as the work of journalists, comes at a time when the population needs accurate information on the conflict and the response provided by the transitional authorities. We call on the Nigerien authorities to unconditionally release journalists arrested and detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression or for reporting on sensitive information of public interest. They must also ensure that journalists can do their work without fear of harassment, intimidation, arrest or detention,” said Samira Daoud, Director of Amnesty International’s West and South Africa regional office. Center.
On April 24, 2024, the publishing director of the newspaper L’Enquêteur, Soumana Maiga, was arrested after his newspaper published an article on the alleged installation of listening equipment by Russian agents on official buildings of the ‘State. He is detained for “endangering national defense”. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
The transitional authorities must effectively implement their legal obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfill the human rights of all in the country.
Samira Daoud, Director of Amnesty International’s regional office for West and Central Africa
A few days earlier, on April 13, 2024, Ousmane Toudou, journalist and former communications advisor to the deposed president, was also arrested. In the days following the July 2023 coup, Ousmane Toudou called on all democrats to oppose the military takeover in a publication widely distributed on social networks. Since his arrest by the security forces, Ousmane Toudou has still not been brought before a judge to be heard, even though the legal period for police custody, set at 4 days, has expired. He must be tried by a military court, despite provisions of international law that require military courts to try only military offenses.
“We pay more attention to our writings to preserve ourselves”
Tchima Illa Issoufou, correspondent for BBC international radio in Hausa, was threatened and accused of trying to “destabilize Niger” by reporting on the security situation in the Tillabéri region, in western Niger, which was particularly affected by conflict. She is currently wanted by security forces and has been targeted by supporters of the transitional authorities on social media, who have accused her of being under “foreign influence”. The broadcast of his report was followed by the arrest of a civil society actor, Ali Tera, who had been interviewed by the BBC correspondent. He was arrested on April 26, 2024 and was remanded in custody at Niamey civil prison on April 29. Tchima Illa Issoufou fled Niger to settle in another country.
“The Nigerien context has become very difficult. The principles of press freedom are being attacked by the new authorities and several colleagues and I are paying more attention to our writings to protect ourselves,” the director of a media outlet in Niger told Amnesty International under cover of the ‘anonymity.
In January 2024, the Maison de la Presse, an association which brings together several private and public press organs in Niger, was suspended by the transitional authorities and replaced by an ad hoc committee led by the secretary general of the Ministry of the Interior .
“The rights to freedom of expression, freedom of information and freedom of the press are guaranteed by national legislation and international human rights treaties, such as the African Charter on Human Rights and of Peoples and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Niger is a party. The transitional authorities must effectively implement their legal obligations to respect, protect, promote and realize the human rights of all in the country,” said Samira Daoud.
