Eighteen months following the July 26, 2023, coup d’état that ousted the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, the military administration known as the CNSP is significantly tightening its control over Niger. A recent report by Amnesty International, released on March 18, documents a troubling pattern of forced disappearances, unlawful detentions, media censorship, and the banning of political organizations. The document, titled “Niger: Threatened and Silenced: Human Rights and Civic Space Under Pressure Since the July 26 Coup,” details extensive violations of political and civil liberties occurring between July 2023 and January 2025. Critics of the regime and former government officials face constant intimidation from a military leadership that is eroding civic space and deepening social divisions. Although the CNSP initially justified its power grab by citing security concerns and poor governance while pledging to uphold the rule of law, those commitments appear to have been abandoned.
The Sahel region has been plagued by a series of military takeovers, including those in Mali (2020 and 2021) and Burkina Faso (2022). Following the coup in Niger, the three nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023, distancing themselves from the regional ECOWAS bloc and severing diplomatic ties with France and the European Union. Continuing this trend of strategic realignment, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali announced their withdrawal from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) on March 17, as the body had joined international calls for the release of Mohamed Bazoum.
The collapse of legal protections
Upon taking power, General Abdourahamane Tiani vowed to respect human rights and civil liberties in accordance with Niger’s international obligations. However, after a year and a half, the situation has deteriorated sharply. Marceau Sivieude, a regional director for Amnesty International, noted that despite initial assurances, the legal framework for human rights has been systematically dismantled. The military authorities quickly suspended the 2010 Constitution and dissolved key institutions like the National Human Rights Commission. In their place, the CNSP has concentrated all legislative and executive power, governing primarily through restrictive decrees.
One of the most controversial moves was the 2024 reinstatement of a 2019 cybercrime law, which is now used to prosecute individuals for defamation or sharing content deemed a threat to public order. This vague language has been weaponized against political opponents. Furthermore, an August 2024 decree expanded the definition of terrorism, allowing the government to blacklist individuals, freeze their assets, and even revoke their citizenship. Since October 2024, at least 21 people, including former ministers from the Bazoum administration, have been targeted by these measures. Former presidential advisor Hamid Ngadé expressed despair over the situation, stating that the loss of his Nigerien nationality could leave him stateless in a country where the rule of law no longer exists. Amnesty International researcher Ousmane Diallo warned that such decrees are being used to strip citizens of their rights based solely on their political views.
Silencing activists and the press
The military junta has expanded its repressive reach to include civil society and independent media, creating an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship. Intelligence services, specifically the DGSE, have been accused of orchestrating arbitrary arrests and secret detentions. A prominent example is the case of activist Moussa Tchangari, who was arrested in December 2024 and held incommunicado before being charged with state security offenses and criminal association. He currently faces a decade in prison.
The administration has also fostered a toxic social divide, labeling supporters as “patriots” while branding critics as “stateless” enemies. This rhetoric has paralyzed civil society organizations in Niamey, where leaders admit that fear prevents them from organizing any activities that might be interpreted as critical of the government. The once-vibrant network of social organizations is now fragmented and weakened.
Journalism under fire
The CNSP has also launched a direct assault on media freedom. In early 2024, the independent Press House was suspended and replaced by a government-controlled committee. International broadcasters like RFI and France 24 were banned shortly after the coup, with the BBC facing a three-month suspension starting in late 2024. Journalists themselves are frequently targeted; Ousmane Toudou and Soumana Maïga were both arrested for social media posts and brought before military courts despite being civilians. Blogger Samira Sabou was also subjected to a forced disappearance before being charged under cybercrime statutes.
This relentless pressure has forced many reporters into silence. Sources are increasingly unwilling to speak out, and journalists are forced to scrutinize every word to avoid retribution. As Ousmane Diallo emphasized, the suppression of dissent and press freedom is a critical turning point for Niger. Recent recommendations for a five-year transition period, which would allow current military leaders to run for office, suggest that the return to democratic rule of law remains a distant prospect.
