The use of cybercrime legislation to detain journalists in Niger has sparked condemnation from international press groups. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recently called upon Nigerian authorities to release three journalists held in pre-trial detention under cybercrime allegations. These charges are seen as a method to suppress free speech, as highlighted by Moussa Ngom, CPJ’s Francophone Africa representative. He described the use of cybercrime laws for “meaningless accusations” as a sign of regression in Nigeria’s press freedom landscape.
On November 3, six journalists from privately owned news outlets were charged with disseminating data likely to disturb public order, a cybercrime offense carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison. While three journalists, Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Sériba, and Oumarou Abou Kané, remain detained, three others—Moussa Kaka, Souleymane Oumarou Brah, and Abdoul Aziz Idé—were released under judicial supervision.
This legal action stemmed from an event on October 29, when Hamid Amadou N’gadé, a former advisor to ex-President Mohamed Bazoum, posted on Facebook about a news conference tied to the Solidarity Fund for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (FSSP). N’gadé revealed upcoming mandatory salary deductions, and one journalist’s subsequent electronic sharing of this invitation led to the charges against them.
The political context in Niger, following a coup led by Abdourahamane Tchiani, has seen cybercrime laws increasingly weaponized against journalists. Human Rights Watch has critiqued the law for its vagueness, which allows for broad interpretation and use against the press. The United Nations has also voiced concerns, with its General Assembly warning against cybercrime legislation that targets human rights defenders and obstructs their work, emphasizing an alignment with international human rights law.
The unfolding situation in Niger underscores a growing pattern amongst some nations, where cybercrime laws are repurposed to curb freedom of expression and press freedoms. The pressure from international bodies for Niger to adhere to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, particularly its Article 19, remains crucial. For further insights, the original article can be explored here.