Niger crackdown on journalists violates press freedom rights

Press freedom under siege in Niger as six journalists face judicial harassment

On November 2, the judicial police in Niamey, Niger, arrested six journalists in a blatant violation of press freedom rights. Three of them were subsequently subjected to arbitrary detention. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), under the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, have strongly condemned this judicial harassment and are urgently calling on Nigerien authorities to release the detained journalists unconditionally.

Paris-Geneva, November 12, 2025 — On November 2, 2025, the judicial police in Niamey arrested Moussa Kaka, a former Radio France Internationale correspondent and current director of Radio-télévision Saraounia (RTS); Abdoul Aziz Idé, a RTS journalist in the Zarma service; Ibro Chaibou, host of the “Club de la Presse” and RTS editorial secretary; Youssouf Seriba, editor-in-chief of the news outlet “Échos du Niger”; Oumarou Kané, founder of the satirical weekly “Le Hérisson”; and Souleymane Brah, editor-in-chief of “La Voix du Peuple.” All six were charged with “complicity in spreading information likely to disrupt public order” under Article 31 of the Cybercrime Law (Law No. 2019-33 of July 3, 2019), as amended by Ordinance 2024-28 of June 7, 2024, facing potential prison sentences ranging from two to five years.

On November 3, 2025, the chief judge of the Niamey High Court placed three of the journalists—Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Seriba, and Oumarou Kané—under pre-trial detention at the high-security prison in Kollo, about 50 kilometers south of Niamey. Meanwhile, Moussa Kaka, Abdoul Aziz Idé, and Souleymane Brah were released on bail after hours of questioning by the judicial police, though the charges against them remain pending as of this report.

What triggered the arrests?

The arrests followed the publication on social media—particularly Facebook—of an invitation to RTS to cover a press conference organized by the “Solidarity Fund for the Safeguarding of the Nation” (FSSP). This entity, established by Niger’s military regime, forcibly collects funds from employees, citizens, and NGOs to “support the army in its fight against radical groups.” The arrests also coincide with a debate titled “Club de la Presse,” broadcast by RTS on October 31, 2025.

The Observatory emphasizes that merely publishing or discussing an invitation cannot be construed as a violation of the law, nor should it be considered a “disruption of public order.” These prosecutions appear solely intended to intimidate the journalists and suppress Niger’s press freedom, in clear violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

A pattern of repression against journalists in Niger

This is not the first time Moussa Kaka has faced prosecution. In September 2007, under the administration of Mamadou Tandja, he was charged with “complicity in undermining state authority” for his journalistic contacts with the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ). He was released in October 2008 after an international outcry. Additionally, RFI, the radio station where Kaka worked, was shut down by Nigerien authorities in August 2023.

The crackdown on journalists coincides with a broader erosion of civic space in Niger since the July 27, 2023, military coup. Fundamental rights—including freedom of expression, opinion, association, assembly, and peaceful protest—have been repeatedly violated through arbitrary arrests and detentions of human rights defenders, such as Moussa Tchangari, who has been arbitrarily detained for nearly 12 months.

Judicial harassment of journalists is not an isolated incident. For example, on May 7 and 8, 2025, Hamid Mahmoud, Mahaman Sani, and Massaouda Jaharou, journalists from Sahara FM in Agadez, were arrested for reporting on a story by LSI Africa that suggested a breakdown in intelligence cooperation between Niger, Russia, and Turkey. While they were initially released on May 9 due to lack of evidence, they were re-arrested, placed in police custody, and transferred to Niamey’s civil prison on May 14. On June 13, 2025, the Niamey Military Tribunal charged them with “undermining national defense” (Articles 66 and following of the Penal Code) and “conspiracy against state authority” (Articles 62 and following of the Penal Code). While Massaouda Jaharou was granted provisional release, Hamid Mahmoud and Mahaman Sani remain in pre-trial detention at the time of this report.

Urgent calls for justice and legal reforms

The Observatory urges Nigerien authorities to:

• Immediately and unconditionally release Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Seriba, Oumarou Kané, Hamid Mahmoud, and Mahaman Sani, who remain arbitrarily detained;
• Drop all charges against all six journalists, including Moussa Kaka, Abdoul Aziz Idé, Souleymane Brah, and Massaouda Jaharou;
• Reform the Cybercrime Law to ensure full compliance with international human rights standards, particularly Article 19 of the ICCPR and Article 9 of the African Charter, which protect freedom of opinion and expression.

In June 2024, Niger’s military-led National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) issued Ordinance 2024-28, amending the 2019 Cybercrime Law to reintroduce prison sentences for offenses such as insults, defamation via electronic means, or spreading information deemed likely to disrupt public order. At the time, the FIDH warned that these provisions could be misused to suppress human rights defenders, including journalists.

The Observatory reiterates its call for Niger to uphold press freedom and human rights, ending the cycle of judicial repression against media professionals and civil society.