The IPI global network is deeply concerned over the imprisonment of four journalists in Niger arrested in separate cases over the past six months and calls on authorities to release them immediately. Nigerien authorities must stop targeting journalists for perceived criticism against the state and the country’s security situation.
Last month, authorities jailed two journalists for alleged criticism of the president and prime minister in two separate incidents. On September 16, a Niamey court sentenced Hassane Zada, an editor for the newspaper Toubal Info and a correspondent for the private broadcaster Canal 3, to 30 months in prison in Niamey and a fine of two million CFA francs (€3,050). Zada is currently being held at the Niamey Civil Prison. Zada was convicted of insulting Niger’s president, General Abdourahmane Tiani, who took power in a coup d’état in July 2023, in a WhatsApp audio file. He was sentenced under Niger’s Cyber Security law, which in 2024 reintroduced strict prison sentences for defamation and the publication of false information.
On September 7, police arrested Ali Soumana, the chief editor of the weekly newspaper Le Courrier and charged him with “defamation”, “complicity in the dissemination by press and electronic means”, and “harm to human dignity” following the publication of an article implicating Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine in alleged customs fraud. Earlier in April, authorities had detained Soumana for four days in the capital after claiming the outgoing Director General of Customs, Colonel Abou Oubandawaki, lost his position due to graft. The former director had filed a libel suit against Soumana but later withdrew the complaint.
Since May 7, authorities have held Sahara FM journalists Hamid Mahmoud and Mahamane Sani behind bars for airing a news item originally published by the France-based outlet LSI Africa. The story alleged that Niger authorities had discreetly ended a contract with the Russian private mercenary company the Wagner Group. Currently held at Kollo Prison, 30 kilometres outside Niamey, the two journalists are being prosecuted for “undermining national defence” and “conspiracy against state authority” under the Nigerien Penal Code. On June 13, the Niamey Military Court granted a provisional release to Massaouda Jaharou, the third Sahara FM reporter arrested on that same day. The decision allows Jaharou to remain outside of prison but requires her to be at the disposal of the judiciary as legal proceedings continue.
“Nigerien authorities must release all four jailed journalists and stop the misuse of national security and cybercrime legislation to target the press for perceived criticism of the authorities and the country’s security situation,” IPI Africa Advocacy and Engagement Lead Nompilo Simanje said.
Local journalists in Niger told IPI that they operate in an atmosphere of fear where self-censorship is mandatory for the press, especially when covering governance and security issues related to the ruling military junta.
In a significant blow to self-regulation and solidarity within the profession, authorities suspended the “Maison de la Presse” (Press House) in January of last year, a key organisation representing and defending journalists.
On September 1, the government launched the National Communications Observatory, a state-controlled media monitoring body set up to “ensure compliance with ethics and professional conduct” and prevent any broadcasting that incites “hatred or violence”.
Soon after the coup in August 2023, IPI reported on the military junta’s suspension of Radio France Internationale and France 24, both of which remain banned from broadcasting in the country. Three months later, authorities also banned BBC FM broadcasts. The ongoing bans have significantly limited the Nigerien public’s access to diverse sources of information, particularly in rural areas where radio is a primary news source.