Eighteen months after the coup d’état on July 26, 2023, which ousted elected President Mohamed Bazoum, the CNSP military regime is tightening its grip on Niger. A recent report from Amnesty International, released on March 18, documents a worrying trend of forced arrests, arbitrary detentions, and a crackdown on both the media and political parties. Titled “Niger: Threatened and silenced,” the document details severe violations of civil and political rights occurring between July 2023 and January 2025. Critics and former government officials are increasingly targeted by a regime that has weakened the nation’s civic space, leading to deeper social divisions. Although the CNSP initially justified its takeover by promising to improve security and governance while respecting the rule of law, those promises now appear forgotten.

The Sahel region has faced a wave of instability, with military takeovers in Mali (2020 and 2021) and Burkina Faso (2022) preceding the events in Niger. In response to economic sanctions and pressure from ECOWAS, these three nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023. This strategic shift led to their withdrawal from the regional bloc and a break in relations with France and the European Union. Continuing this path of isolation, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali announced their departure from the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) on March 17, following the organization’s calls for the release of Mohamed Bazoum.

The collapse of the rule of law

When General Abdourahamane Tiani first took power, he pledged to uphold human rights and civil liberties in line with Niger’s international obligations. However, Marceau Sivieude, a regional director for Amnesty International, notes that these rights have been systematically undermined. The military authorities quickly suspended the 2010 Constitution and key institutions like the National Human Rights Commission. Today, the CNSP holds both executive and legislative power, governing primarily through restrictive ordinances.

Among the most alarming legal changes is the reinstatement of a 2019 cybercrime law, which has been used since mid-2024 to prosecute individuals for defamation or content deemed disruptive to public order. This vague language allows the state to target a wide range of opponents. Additionally, an August 2024 decree expanded the definition of terrorist offenses, allowing for the stripping of nationality and the freezing of assets for those on a state-controlled list. At least 21 people, including former ministers, have already been affected. Hamid Ngadé, a former presidential advisor, expressed his fear of becoming stateless, stating that the rule of law no longer exists in Niger to protect citizens’ rights.

A climate of fear for civil society and the press

The junta’s repressive tactics have also extended to silencing civil society and the media. Intelligence services, specifically the DGSE, have been accused of orchestrating enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests. Moussa Tchangari, a prominent activist, was violently arrested in December 2024 and charged with state security offenses, facing a potential ten-year prison sentence. This crackdown has fostered a culture of fear, where the population is divided between those labeled as “patriots” and those branded as “traitors” for questioning the government’s direction.

The media landscape is equally under siege. After suspending the House of the Press in early 2024, the CNSP has increased its monitoring of journalists. International outlets such as RFI, France 24, and the BBC have been blocked, while local reporters like Ousmane Toudou and Soumana Maïga have been detained for their online publications. Even activists like Samira Sabou have faced temporary disappearances and legal harassment. This relentless pressure has led to widespread self-censorship, as journalists fear there is no longer anyone left to defend their professional freedom.

As the country looks toward a suggested five-year transition period that could allow current military leaders to run for office, the future of democracy in Niger remains uncertain. Amnesty International warns that the suppression of dissent and free expression marks a dangerous turning point for the nation’s human rights trajectory.