Since the military coup in July 2023, Niger has witnessed a sharp decline in human rights conditions. In 2025, the military junta intensified its crackdown on political opponents, dissenters, union members, and journalists. Arbitrary detentions continue, including the former President Mohamed Bazoum and his wife, alongside overthrown government officials, activists, and reporters.
The country remains under siege from multiple armed Islamist factions, including the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS), the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM or Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen, JNIM) linked to Al-Qaeda, as well as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). These groups operate predominantly in western regions like Tillabéri and the southeastern border areas with Mali and Burkina Faso, escalating violence and endangering civilian lives.
In August, the junta launched an initiative called « Garkuwar Kassa » (translated as « Shields of the Homeland » in Hausa), designed to recruit and train civilians to support national armed forces. While framed as a security measure, this move has sparked widespread concern over the potential for unchecked militia abuses and further destabilization.
In March 2025, General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the military junta, swore in as transitional president without holding elections, solidifying his grip on power and postponing democratic restoration. Tiani also signed a decree abolishing multi-party politics nationwide, further entrenching authoritarian control.
January saw Niger withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), joining Mali and Burkina Faso. This decision narrowed avenues for citizens seeking justice through the ECOWAS Court of Justice. In September, the three nations announced plans to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), raising serious concerns about impunity for atrocity crimes against civilians.
Surge in Islamist militant attacks and civilian atrocities
The Islamist insurgency that began in northern Mali in 2012 spread to neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso by 2015, leading to over a decade of widespread abuses. In 2025, the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) escalated attacks in Tillabéri, a region bordering Mali and Burkina Faso, targeting civilians with summary executions, arson, and looting.
On March 21, EIS fighters stormed a mosque in the village of Fambita during afternoon prayers, killing at least 46 worshippers—including three children—and setting fire to over 20 homes and multiple market stalls. Survivors reported that prior warnings from militants accused villagers of collaborating with Niger’s military or failing to pay zakat (Islamic tax).
Similar massacres occurred throughout the year:
- May 13: Five men and two boys killed in Dani Fari; 12 homes burned and dozens more looted.
- June 21: Over 70 worshippers, including five children, massacred in a mosque in Manda; at least 10 homes burned.
- June 20–23: In Abarkaize, a village elder was executed; five men abducted and later found beheaded on the outskirts.
- June 23: Six civilians killed and homes looted in Ezzak.
Survivors consistently reported inadequate protection from Niger’s military despite prior threats.
Systematic suppression of political dissent and civil society
Former President Mohamed Bazoum and his wife have been held incommunicado at the presidential palace in Niamey since the coup. Their detention has been deemed arbitrary by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which called for their immediate release in February 2025.
Dozens of former officials, including cabinet ministers and close allies of Bazoum, have been detained without due process. While some were released in April 2025, many remain imprisoned on politically motivated charges. Prominent human rights defender Moussa Tiangari was arrested in December 2024 and faces trial on charges including « conspiring with foreign powers, » which carries the death penalty. Despite legal challenges and international appeals, he remains in pretrial detention without access to a judge.
Crackdown on free speech and organized labor
Press freedom has plummeted since 2023, with journalists facing threats, harassment, and arbitrary arrest. Many now practice self-censorship to avoid reprisals. In January 2025, the government suspended private broadcaster Canal 3 TV for 30 days and revoked the press card of its editor-in-chief after criticism of government ministers was aired—though the suspension was later lifted.
In February, authorities ordered the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to leave Niger without explanation, disrupting critical humanitarian operations. In May, three journalists from Sahara FM in Agadez were arrested for reporting on alleged shifts in Niger’s security partnerships with Russia and Turkey. Despite a judge ordering their release, they were re-arrested and remain detained.
The junta further undermined judicial independence in August by dissolving four judicial unions, citing vague claims of « deviating from their roles » and prioritizing « personal interests. » The move drew sharp condemnation from the Niger Trade Union Federation, the Niger Bar Association, and lawyers nationwide, who organized a two-day general strike in protest. These actions signal a broader erosion of civil liberties and democratic institutions under military rule.