Niger journalists face judicial harassment for press freedom violations
The judicial harassment of six journalists in Niger on November 2nd represents a blatant violation of press freedom. Three have been arbitrarily detained, while the others remain under investigation. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), through the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, strongly condemn these actions and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all detained journalists.
Arrests and charges against journalists in Niamey
On November 2, 2025, judicial police in Niamey arrested Moussa Kaka, a former RFI correspondent and current director of Radio-télévision Saraounia (RTS), along with five other journalists: Abdoul Aziz Idé, Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Seriba, Oumarou Kané, and Souleymane Brah. They face charges of “complicity in spreading information likely to disturb public order” under Article 31 of the cybercrime law (Law No. 2019-33 of July 3, 2019), as amended by Order 2024-28 of June 7, 2024. If convicted, they could face two to five years in prison.
On November 3, the investigating judge at the High Court of Niamey ordered the pretrial detention of Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Seriba, and Oumarou Kané at the high-security prison in Kollo, 50 km south of the capital. Meanwhile, Moussa Kaka, Abdoul Aziz Idé, and Souleymane Brah were released on bail, though charges against them remain pending.
Context of the arrests
The arrests followed the publication of a Facebook invitation to RTS for covering a press conference organized by the “Solidarity Fund for the Salvation of the Homeland” (FSSP). This fund, created by Niger’s military regime, imposes mandatory financial contributions on employees, populations, and NGOs to “support the army in its fight against radical groups.” Additionally, the RTS “press club” debate scheduled for October 31, 2025, became another target of these repressive measures.
The Observatory emphasizes that merely publishing or discussing an invitation cannot be deemed a violation of the law, nor can it constitute a “disturbance of public order.” These prosecutions appear designed to intimidate journalists and suppress press freedom in Niger, 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.
Previous cases of judicial harassment in Niger
This is not the first time Moussa Kaka has faced judicial persecution. In September 2007, under former President Mamadou Tandja’s regime, 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 following international condemnation. Additionally, RFI, where Kaka worked, was shut down by Nigerien authorities in August 2023.
The current crackdown on journalists follows the July 27, 2023, military coup, which has significantly narrowed civic space and violated fundamental rights. Arbitrary arrests and detentions of human rights defenders, including Moussa Tchangari—detained for nearly 12 months—are part of a broader pattern of repression. Journalists are not the only targets; for instance, in May 2025, Hamid Mahmoud, Mahaman Sani, and Massaouda Jaharou were arrested for reporting on alleged intelligence cooperation breakdowns between Niger, Russia, and Turkey. While Jaharou was released, Mahmoud and Sani remain in detention.
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 Moussa Kaka, Abdoul Aziz Idé, Souleymane Brah, and Massaouda Jaharou.
- Review the 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 Observatory also highlights concerns raised in June 2024 when the National Council for the Salvation of the Homeland (CNSP), Niger’s military governing body, amended the cybercrime law to reinstate prison sentences for offenses such as insults, defamation via electronic means, or spreading information deemed to disrupt public order. These amendments risk being used to suppress dissent, including by human rights defenders and journalists.
