Niger’s judicial unions dissolved amid crackdown on dissent
The Observatoire pour la protection des défenseur·es des droits humains—a joint initiative of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)—has condemned the dissolution of five judicial unions in Niger by the Minister of Interior, Public Security, and Territorial Administration, General Mohamed Toumba, on August 7, 2025. The move was swiftly followed by the suspension of two senior magistrates from the Syndicat autonome des magistrats du Niger (Saman) for criticizing the government’s actions. The Observatoire urges Niger’s authorities to reverse these decisions immediately and uphold fundamental freedoms, including the rights to association and assembly, in line with the country’s national and international obligations.
Paris, Geneva, August 21, 2025—On August 7, 2025, the Nigerien government, led by General Mohamed Toumba, dissolved five key judicial unions through a series of ministerial decrees:
- Syndicat autonome des magistrats du Niger (Saman)
- Union des magistrats du Niger (Uman)
- Syndicat national des agents de justice (Snaj)
- Syndicat des cadres et des agents techniques du ministère de la Justice (Syncat)
- Syndicat indépendant des magistrats du Niger (Siman)
The government’s justification for these dissolutions remains unclear, as the decrees cited no legal grounds. The following day, Justice Minister Alio Daouda addressed the press, claiming the unions had engaged in “repeated misconduct undermining public service” and “deviated from their roles by prioritizing personal interests.” In protest, the Saman and the Ordre des avocats du Niger announced a symbolic strike on August 14 and 15, 2025.
Legal violations spark outrage
The government’s justification for dissolving the unions hinges on an inapplicable 1984 ordnance, which does not cover trade unions—these fall under the Nigerien Labor Code (Law N°2012-45 of September 25, 2012) and international labor conventions ratified by Niger. According to the Union des syndicats des travailleurs du Niger (USTN), the 1984 ordnance pertains solely to non-profit associations, not unions, which are governed by a distinct legal framework. Without legal basis, these dissolutions are invalid and unenforceable.
The crackdown extended beyond organizational dissolution. Two prominent magistrates—Abdoul-Nasser Bagna Abdourahamane (Secretary-General of Saman) and Moussa Mahamadou (Deputy Secretary-General)—were suspended from the judiciary within 24 hours of each other. President Abdourahamane Tiani issued presidential decrees on August 14 and 15, 2025, removing them from their positions for publicly criticizing the dissolutions and demanding a right of reply. Mahamadou had also signed a statement calling for a general strike until Abdourahamane’s reinstatement—labeled “illegal” by authorities.
Threats to judicial independence and democratic principles
The dissolution of judicial unions raises serious concerns about the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary—cornerstones of democratic governance. These administrative decisions represent a severe breach of fundamental freedoms, particularly the right to association, as outlined in:
- Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Niger is a signatory;
- Article 36 of Niger’s 2025 Charter for Refoundation;
- African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights;
- ILO Conventions 87 and 98, ratified by Niger in 1961 and 1962, respectively.
The Ordre des avocats du Niger has warned that these actions “compromise judicial independence, freedom of expression, and even the right to defense.”
Wider crackdown on dissent
These measures are part of a broader pattern of shrinking civic space in Niger, where dissenting voices face repeated violations of their rights. The Observatoire highlights the arbitrary detention of human rights defender Moussa Tchangari, held for nearly nine months without trial after criticizing the Interior Minister’s decision to revoke licenses of two humanitarian organizations. Such actions violate multiple international and regional instruments, including the right to freedom of opinion, expression, assembly, and association.
The Observatoire stresses that protecting trade union rights and judicial independence is essential for upholding the rule of law and democracy. It calls on Niger’s authorities to:
- Immediately revoke the dissolutions of the five judicial unions;
- Reinstate Abdoul-Nasser Bagna Abdourahamane and Moussa Mahamadou;
- Cease all harassment, intimidation, and sanctions against unions and human rights defenders;
- Fully respect the rights to association and assembly, in compliance with national and international commitments.
