Niger faces growing repression under military rule after 2023 coup
Human rights under siege in Niger 18 months after military takeover
Eighteen months after the 26 July 2023 coup d’état that removed democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s military regime—led by the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP)—has intensified its crackdown on dissent. Forced arrests, arbitrary detentions, media censorship, and the suspension of political parties have become hallmarks of a government that has systematically violated civil and political rights between July 2023 and January 2025.
Amnesty International’s latest report, titled “Niger: Threats and Submission — Human Rights and Civic Space Under Pressure Since the July 26 Coup”, documents a sharp decline in freedoms, with critics and former officials facing systematic repression. While the CNSP initially justified its takeover by citing “security degradation” and “poor governance,” its promises to uphold the rule of law have since been abandoned.
The report highlights a dangerous erosion of democratic norms, including the suspension of key institutions such as the National Human Rights Commission, which remains inactive. Legislative changes—such as the reinstatement of the 2019 cybercrime law—now allow authorities to prosecute citizens for vaguely defined offenses like defamation or spreading content deemed disruptive to public order.
Military rule dismantles democratic safeguards
General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the CNSP, had pledged to respect human rights and civil liberties upon seizing power. Yet, according to Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s interim regional director for West and Central Africa, the reality is starkly different: “Despite official assurances, human rights have been systematically violated both in law and practice. The legal framework has regressed, and authorities have failed in their duties.”
Key legislative rollbacks include:
- An August 2024 ordinance that broadens the definition of terrorism, enabling authorities to blacklist individuals and freeze their assets—even stripping them of nationality, as seen in cases involving former Bazoum administration officials.
- The 2019 cybercrime law, reinstated in July 2024, which criminalizes online dissent under broad, ambiguous terms.
- Suspension of the 2010 Constitution and other democratic institutions, consolidating executive and legislative power under military decree.
As of October 2024, 21 individuals—including former ministers—have been stripped of their citizenship under these measures. Hamid Ngadé, a former presidential communications advisor, remarked: “I only have Nigerien nationality, and this provisional revocation could leave me stateless. There is no rule of law left in Niger.”
Civic space crushed under military pressure
The regime has systematically dismantled political opposition. Since the coup, all major political parties have been suspended, eliminating institutional checks on power. Meanwhile, security forces—particularly the General Directorate of State Security (DGSE)—have carried out forced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and prolonged detentions targeting activists and critics.
Moussa Tchangari, a prominent civil society leader, was violently arrested at his home on 3 December 2024 and held incommunicado for days before being charged with terrorism, state security violations, and criminal association. His case exemplifies the regime’s strategy to silence dissent through legal intimidation.
The military has also fueled social divisions, labeling critics as “stateless traitors” while rewarding supporters as “patriots.” A local civil society leader in Niamey stated: “We live under a state of exception. People fear speaking out or organizing any activity that might be perceived as critical. The once-vibrant civic space is now fragmented and paralyzed.”
Media freedom erased in crackdown on dissent
Independent journalism in Niger is under severe threat. The Press House was suspended in January 2024 and replaced by a government-aligned interim committee. Foreign media outlets, including RFI, France 24, and the BBC (suspended in December 2024), have faced bans for criticizing the regime.
Local journalists have not been spared. Ousmane Toudou, a former advisor to President Bazoum, and Soumana Maïga, a newspaper publisher, were arrested in April 2024 over social media posts. While Maïga was released provisionally, Toudou remains detained. Blogger and activist Samira Sabou was forcibly disappeared before being prosecuted under the cybercrime law.
Faced with relentless repression, journalists now practice self-censorship. “Now, every word is scrutinized. There’s no one left to defend the press,” one reporter told Amnesty International.
Ousmane Diallo, a Sahel researcher, warns: “Freedom of expression, dissent, and press freedom are cornerstones of accountability. Niger stands at a critical juncture—one where the erosion of these rights risks plunging the country deeper into authoritarianism.”
In late February, national consultations recommended a five-year renewable transition period, potentially allowing current leaders to run in future elections. This proposal further entrenches military rule and delays any return to democratic governance.
