The state of press freedom in Niger is currently under heavy fire, with transitional leaders using intimidation and arbitrary arrests to silence media professionals covering security issues and the ongoing national conflict, according to a recent report by Amnesty International.

Following the military takeover on 26 July 2023—where Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the presidential guard, ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to lead the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland—the environment for independent reporting has deteriorated. Journalists are increasingly forced into self-censorship to avoid harassment or legal retaliation.

“This blatant disregard for the right to free expression and the essential work of the press comes at a time when the public desperately needs transparent information about the conflict and the government’s actions. We urge the Nigerien authorities to immediately release all journalists detained for exercising their rights or reporting on matters of public interest. They must ensure that the media can operate without the constant shadow of arrest or harassment,” stated Samira Daoud, Regional Director for Amnesty International in West and Central Africa.

On 24 April 2024, Soumana Maiga, the editor of the newspaper L’Enquêteur, was taken into custody. His arrest followed the publication of a story regarding the alleged installation of surveillance equipment by Russian operatives in state buildings. Currently held on charges of “harming national defense,” he could face a decade in prison if convicted.

The transitional administration must uphold its legal duties to respect, protect, and promote the human rights of every individual within the country.

Samira Daoud, Regional Director for Amnesty International in West and Central Africa

Earlier that month, on 13 April 2024, Ousmane Toudou, a journalist and former communications advisor to the deposed president, was also detained. Following the 2023 coup, Ousmane Toudou had publicly called for democratic resistance against the military junta. Despite legal limits requiring a court appearance within four days, he remains held without a hearing and faces trial in a military court—a move that contradicts international standards requiring such courts to handle only military offenses.

The shift toward self-preservation in Nigerien media

Tchima Illa Issoufou, a correspondent for the BBC Hausa service, faced severe threats and accusations of attempting to “destabilize Niger” after reporting on the security crisis in the Tillabéri region. Targeted by government supporters online and pursued by security forces, she was accused of being a puppet of foreign interests. Her reporting also led to the arrest of civil society member Ali Tera, who was interviewed for the segment. He was detained on 26 April 2024 and sent to the Niamey civil prison. Facing imminent danger, Tchima Illa Issoufou has since fled Niger.

“The professional landscape in Niger has become incredibly hostile. The core tenets of media freedom are being dismantled by the current leadership, forcing many of us to be extremely cautious with our words simply to survive,” a local media director told Amnesty International under the condition of anonymity.

Further tightening the grip on information, the transitional authorities suspended the Maison de la Presse in January 2024. This organization, which represented both private and public media outlets in Niger, was replaced by an ad hoc committee controlled by the Ministry of the Interior.

“The rights to free speech and access to information are protected by national laws and international agreements, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Niger is a signatory. It is imperative that the transitional authorities fulfill their obligations to safeguard these fundamental rights,” Samira Daoud concluded.