Amnesty International has issued a stark warning about the perilous state of press freedom in Niger following last year’s military coup that ousted elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
The rights organization expressed deep concern over the intimidation and arbitrary arrests of journalists by transitional authorities since the coup, leading to a stifling environment where journalists are now self-censoring out of fear of reprisals.
Samira Daoud, Amnesty’s regional director for West and Central Africa, emphasized the crucial role of journalists in providing accurate information during times of conflict and urged Nigerien authorities to release journalists detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression. Daoud called for an environment where journalists can carry out their work without fear of harassment or detention.
Amnesty highlighted the case of Soumana Maiga, editor of L’Enqueteur newspaper, who was arrested and charged with “infringement of national defense” after his paper reported on alleged Russian surveillance equipment installed on state buildings. Maiga faces a possible 10-year jail term.
The rights organization also mentioned the arrest of Ousmane Toudou, a journalist and former communications adviser to Bazoum, who was detained for criticizing the military takeover on social media.
Despite the expiry of the legal custody period, Toudou has yet to appear before a judge and is slated to face trial before a military court, a move deemed contrary to international human rights standards.
Amnesty’s concerns echo the latest press freedom ranking by Reporters Without Borders, which saw Niger plummet 26 places to 80th out of 180 countries.
The situation underscores the urgent need for safeguarding press freedom and ensuring journalists can operate without fear of persecution or censorship.
