Violations of press freedom: two journalists arrested, intimidation

Expression

Two journalists arrested

On April 23, 2024, officers of the Niamey judicial police arrested Idrissa Soumana Maïga, editor of the newspaper L’Enquêteur, for publishing an article about allegations that Russian agents had installed listening devices in government buildings in Niger. According to L’Enquêteur, Maïga did not make these allegations himself, but asked questions based on a cited article in Le Figaro that made the allegations.

On April 29, 2024, Maïga was charged under the penal code with “undermining national defense.” If convicted, he faces up to ten years in prison. According to Maïga’s lawyer Ousmane Ben Kafougou, who spoke to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the judicial authorities justified Maïga’s pre-trial detention, which is prohibited under a press freedom decree, on the grounds that “the facts are serious enough and he should be kept in prison for the purposes of the investigation.”

In another incident, on April 13, 2024, Radio Anfani journalist and former communications adviser to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, Ousmane Toudou, was arrested. Although the reasons for his arrest are unclear, some observers believe it may be related to his criticism. Following the military coup in July 2023, Toudou called on all democrats to oppose the military’s takeover of power in a social media post that was widely shared.

Intimidation of a journalist

According to Amnesty International, BBC Hausa radio correspondent Tchima Illa Issoufou was threatened and accused of trying to “destabilize the country” after reporting on the security situation in the Tillabéri region. She is reportedly wanted by the security forces and has been attacked on social media by supporters of the military authorities, prompting her to flee the country.

Peaceful gathering

Protest demanding the withdrawal of US troops

On April 21, 2024, hundreds of people demonstrated in Agadez, northern Niger, to demand the immediate withdrawal of US troops. They reportedly responded to a call from a collective of 24 associations that support the military junta. The protest took place two days after US government officials announced the withdrawal of more than 1,000 US military officers from Niger. In March 2024, the Nigerien military authorities unilaterally terminated the defense agreement with the US “with immediate effect.”

Earlier, on April 13, 2024, thousands of people demonstrated in front of the National Assembly in Niamey to demand an end to the US military presence in Niger. The protest was reportedly organized by Synergie, a coalition of a dozen associations that support the military junta.