Eighteen months following the military takeover on 26 July 2023 that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, the CNSP military junta is consolidating its authority over Niger. A recent report by Amnesty International, released on 18 March, documents a disturbing trend of forced disappearances, unlawful detentions, media suppression, and the prohibition of political activities. The document, titled “Niger: Threatened and Silenced: Human Rights and Civic Space Under Pressure Since the 26 July Coup,” details significant violations of political and civil liberties occurring between July 2023 and January 2025.
Critical voices and former government officials face constant intimidation from a regime that is effectively shrinking the country’s civic space and deepening social fractures. Although the CNSP initially justified the putsch by citing “security deterioration” and “poor governance” while vowing to uphold the rule of law, those commitments appear to have been abandoned.
The Sahel region has been gripped by chronic instability, marked by successive military coups in Mali (2020 and 2021), Burkina Faso (2022), and finally Niger in 2023. Under the weight of economic sanctions and potential military intervention from CEDEAO, these three nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023. This strategic shift involved severing ties with France and the European Union. Continuing this trend of isolation, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali announced their withdrawal from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) on 17 March, following the organization’s calls for the release of Mohamed Bazoum.
A crumbling rule of law
Upon taking power, General Abdourahamane Tiani pledged to respect Niger’s international human rights obligations. However, the current reality tells a different story. Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s acting regional director for West and Central Africa, notes that despite initial assurances, human rights are being systematically undermined in both law and practice. The report highlights a significant erosion of the country’s legal framework.
Immediately after the coup, the military suspended the 2010 Constitution and dissolved key bodies, including the National Human Rights Commission. While replacement structures were promised, they have yet to materialize, leaving the CNSP with absolute executive and legislative control. The nation is currently governed through restrictive decrees.
One of the most contentious moves was the 2024 reinstatement of the 2019 cybercrime law, which allows for the prosecution of individuals for defamation or spreading content deemed a threat to public order. This vague terminology is frequently used to silence dissenters. Furthermore, an August 2024 ordinance expanded the definition of terrorism, allowing the government to blacklist and strip the nationality of those accused of involvement. Since October 2024, 21 individuals, including former ministers from the Bazoum administration, have been targeted by this measure.
Hamid Ngadé, a former presidential communications advisor, expressed his despair, stating that as a sole citizen of Niger, this provisional deprivation of nationality leaves him effectively stateless. Amnesty International researcher Ousmane Diallo warns that such ordinances are being used to punish citizens for their political opinions. Meanwhile, political pluralism has vanished as political parties remain suspended, removing any institutional checks on power.
Civil society and media under siege
The Nigerien junta has expanded its repressive tools to stifle both civil society and independent media. Behind the rhetoric of national sovereignty, a pervasive atmosphere of fear and self-censorship has taken root. Intelligence services have been accused of involvement in arbitrary arrests and secret detentions. Moussa Tchangari, a prominent civil society figure, was violently arrested in December 2024 and held incommunicado before being charged with state security offenses and criminal association. He faces a potential ten-year prison sentence.
The regime has also fostered a divide between so-called “patriots” who support the junta and “stateless” individuals who dare to criticize its governance. This climate of exception makes it increasingly difficult for organizations to operate without fear of retaliation. Once a vibrant space for mobilization, civil society in Niamey is now fragmented and weakened.
The press in the crosshairs
Journalistic freedom has also come under direct attack. The Maison de la presse was suspended in early 2024 and replaced by a government-aligned committee. International broadcasters like RFI and France 24 were banned shortly after the coup, followed by a BBC suspension in late 2024.
Individual journalists and activists are frequently targeted. Ousmane Toudou and Soumana Maïga were arrested for social media posts and tried in military courts despite being civilians. Blogger Samira Sabou was also subjected to a forced disappearance before being prosecuted under cybercrime laws. This relentless pressure has led to widespread self-censorship, as journalists can no longer rely on protection when reporting on sensitive issues.
Ousmane Diallo emphasizes that freedom of expression and a free press are vital for government accountability. However, Niger appears to be moving further away from democratic norms. Recent recommendations for a five-year transition period, which would allow current military leaders to run in future elections, suggest a long-term entrenchment of military rule rather than a return to the rule of law.
