International advocacy groups are calling on the authorities in Niger to grant immediate freedom to Moussa Tiangari, a prominent human rights defender and civil society leader. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) issued a joint statement demanding an end to the use of terrorism-related charges to stifle political dissent.

On December 3, 2024, Moussa Tiangari was taken from his residence in Niamey, the capital of Niger, by individuals claiming to be police officers. One month later, on January 3, 2025, the High Court in Niamey formally charged him with several severe offenses. These include “conspiracy against state authority in collaboration with enemy powers,” “undermining national defense,” and “criminal association linked to a terrorist enterprise.” A conviction for conspiring with foreign enemies could carry the death penalty.

Following his indictment, Moussa Tiangari was moved to a detention facility in Filingué, located approximately 170 kilometers from Niamey. He remains in pre-trial custody there, and since his transfer, he has not appeared before a judge to address the validity of the allegations against him.

“Moussa Tiangari is being held solely for the peaceful exercise of his fundamental rights,” stated Marceau Sivieude, acting regional director for West and Central Africa at Amnesty International. He urged Niger to drop all charges and expressed deep concern over the weaponization of the legal system against government critics.

The arrest followed social media posts by Moussa Tiangari on November 12, 2024, where he questioned the Interior Ministry’s decision to revoke the licenses of two humanitarian organizations. He had also spoken out against a new database targeting individuals suspected of terrorism, arguing it threatened the rights of Niger citizens. Under an August 2024 decree, these terrorism charges could also lead to the revocation of his Niger nationality.

While Niger law allows for up to four years of pre-trial detention in terrorism cases, human rights organizations argue that the charges against Moussa Tiangari lack international legal merit. They maintain that his actions constitute a legitimate exercise of free speech rather than criminal activity.

Drissa Traoré, Secretary General of FIDH, noted that the case is part of a broader pattern of judicial harassment intended to silence opposition within Niger. Similarly, Ilaria Allegrozzi of Human Rights Watch warned that his detention serves as a deterrent to anyone challenging the country’s shift toward authoritarianism.

Isidore Ngueuleu from the OMCT described the arrest as a significant error, noting that Moussa Tiangari has spent decades advocating for democracy, resource sovereignty, and security in Niger. He argued that a government truly representing the people would release him immediately.

Case background

Moussa Tiangari, 55, serves as the Secretary General of Alternatives Espaces Citoyens (AEC). During his arrest in Niamey on December 3, 2024, armed men in plain clothes confiscated his computer, phone, and personal belongings. His location remained a mystery for two days until he was found at the central anti-terrorism unit in the capital.

Legal efforts to dismiss the case or move it out of the specialized anti-terrorism court were rejected by Niger courts in March and May 2025. His legal team has since appealed these rulings. Meanwhile, global mobilization efforts continue, with Amnesty International members actively campaigning for his unconditional release.

This situation reflects a growing trend of repression in Niger. Since the military takeover in July 2023, international observers have documented increasing pressure on the press, political opponents, and peaceful activists, as detailed in several recent reports on the country’s human rights climate.