press freedom in Niger under severe threat: six journalists targeted
On November 2, 2025, judicial police in Niamey, Niger, arrested six journalists in a clear violation of press freedom. The Observatoire pour la protection des défenseur·es des droits humains—a joint program of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)—has condemned this judicial harassment and urgently calls for their unconditional release.
who are the journalists facing persecution?
Among those detained are:
- Moussa Kaka, former RFI correspondent and current director of Radio-télévision Saraounia (RTS)
- Abdoul Aziz Idé, journalist at RTS (Zarma service)
- Ibro Chaibou, host of the Club de la Presse and RTS news editor
- Youssouf Seriba, editor-in-chief of Échos du Niger
- Oumarou Kané, founder of the satirical weekly Le Hérisson
- Souleymane Brah, editor of La Voix du Peuple
All six were charged under Article 31 of Niger’s Cybercrime Law (2019), amended by Ordinance 2024-28 (June 7, 2024), which criminalizes the dissemination of information deemed likely to disturb public order. They face sentences ranging from two to five years in prison.
detention and ongoing legal threats
On November 3, 2025, three journalists—Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Seriba, and Oumarou Kané—were remanded in custody at the high-security prison in Kollo, near Niamey. Meanwhile, Moussa Kaka, Abdoul Aziz Idé, and Souleymane Brah were released on bail, though charges against them remain pending.
The arrests stem from their coverage of a press conference invitation posted on social media by the Fonds de Solidarité pour la Sauvegarde de la Patrie (FSSP)—a government-backed initiative requiring mandatory contributions from workers, NGOs, and citizens to fund the military’s fight against armed groups. The FSSP invited RTS to cover its event, and the Club de la Presse planned a discussion on October 31, 2025.
The Observatoire emphasizes that simply reporting on or debating such an invitation cannot be construed as a violation of public order. These prosecutions are seen as an attempt to intimidate journalists and suppress press freedom in Niger, in direct contravention 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 troubling pattern of repression
This is not the first time journalists in Niger have faced judicial persecution. In 2007, Moussa Kaka was charged with “complicity in undermining state authority” for his journalistic work and held for over a year before being released in 2008. Additionally, RFI, where Kaka worked, was shut down by Nigerien authorities in August 2023.
The current crackdown reflects a broader erosion of civic space since the July 27, 2023, military coup. Authorities have systematically violated fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, assembly, and association, through arbitrary arrests and detentions. Notable cases include:
- Moussa Tchangari, a human rights defender arbitrarily detained for nearly 12 months.
- In May 2025, journalists Hamid Mahmoud, Mahaman Sani, and Massaouda Jaharou from Sahara FM in Agadez were arrested for reporting on alleged intelligence cooperation breakdowns between Niger, Russia, and Turkey. While Jaharou was released, Mahmoud and Sani remain in detention.
urgent calls for justice and reform
The Observatoire demands the immediate and unconditional release of Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Seriba, Oumarou Kané, Hamid Mahmoud, and Mahaman Sani. It also urges the abandonment of all charges against them and the other journalists, including Moussa Kaka, Abdoul Aziz Idé, Souleymane Brah, and Massaouda Jaharou.
Furthermore, the Observatoire calls for a review of Niger’s Cybercrime Law to ensure 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. The 2024 amendment to this law reintroduced prison sentences for offenses such as defamation and the dissemination of content deemed likely to disturb public order—a provision widely criticized for its potential misuse against human rights defenders and journalists.
The situation in Niger remains dire, with press freedom increasingly under siege. The international community must act to protect the rights of journalists and uphold democratic principles in the country.