In the year following the 2023 military coup in Niger, the nation has witnessed a sharp decline in the protection of human rights, according to a fervent report released by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). The report outlines numerous violations attributed to the military authorities, including the suppression of opposition, arbitrary detention of government officials, and severe restrictions on the media.
The coup, which took place on July 26, 2023, saw the National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland (CNSP) seize power, leading to the detention of previously elected President Mohammed Bazoum and his administration on dubious charges. The international community, particularly the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), reacted promptly by imposing sanctions, although these were lifted in February 2024 in an effort to prevent Niger’s exit from the bloc. Despite these efforts, Bazoum and his associates remain in detention.
Violations have not been confined to the political arena. Media freedom has suffered significantly following the coup. Journalists have faced arrests, charges of disturbing public order, and coercive treatment in prisons. This has consequently led to widespread self-censorship amongst media personnel.
The actions of the Nigerien authorities have drawn criticism for contravening both national and international legal standards. They have notably violated the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The ban on prison visits by human rights organizations in May 2024 additionally breaches the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Furthermore, concerns have been raised over financial transparency after the new leadership signed a decree exempting military expenditures from public procurement laws.
Adding to the growing list of human rights concerns are recent amendments to the 2019 cybercrime law, which reintroduced the possibility of prison sentences for online defamation offenses. This change makes it simpler for the current regime to prosecute journalists and citizens for information deemed disruptive to public order.
As Niger commemorates the one-year anniversary of the coup, the international community continues to voice its concerns regarding human rights abuses. Transparency and accountability of military officials, alongside respect for fundamental human rights, remain critical for the establishment of a democratic and responsible society.