The State of the World's Human Rights; Niger 2025

Armed groups committed unlawful attacks and killings. Authorities continued to crack down on human rights through the dissolution of several unions and the arbitrary detention of journalists, human rights defenders and opposition figures including the former president and his wife. The fate and whereabouts of a former minister abducted in January remained unknown. National consultations recommended measures to address violence against women and children. In response to the influx of migrants deported from Algeria, the government announced a repatriation programme to avoid a humanitarian crisis.

Background

In January, Niger left ECOWAS along with Burkina Faso and Mali, members of the Alliance of Sahel States. On 31 January, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded the closure of the ICRC offices in Niger and the immediate departure of its expatriate staff.

In March the Refoundation Charter was adopted, replacing the constitution and introducing provisions infringing human rights. General Tiani, who took power by coup in 2023, was officially invested as President of the Republic of Niger for a five-year renewable mandate. A transitional parliament was put in place in June. In September, the Alliance of Sahel States announced its withdrawal from the ICC.

In December, the government adopted a new ordinance on civic mobilization for national defence purposes, paving the way for the conscription of Nigeriens.

Unlawful attacks and killings

Between 22 and 25 February, 16 people in the Dosso region were reportedly killed by “armed bandits”.

On 21 March a deadly attack struck the mosque in the village of Fambita in western Niger as Muslim worshippers gathered for the main Ramadan prayer. The attack killed at least 44 people and was attributed to members of the Islamic State – Sahel Province, according to the minister of defence.

During the night of 21-22 June, armed men attacked the locality of Manda killing at least 71 people and injuring more than 20 people, according to local sources.

Freedom of association

On 26 March, President Tiani issued a decree dissolving all political parties.

In August, the Ministry of Interior dissolved several trade unions of judiciary professionals citing “repeated failings of the public service delivery” and corporatism.¹ In the same month, the Nigerien president sacked Abdoul Nasser Bagna Abdourahamane and Moussa Mahamadou, secretary general and deputy secretary general of the Autonomous Union of Nigerien Magistrates respectively, from the civil service. This followed their criticism of the dissolution of the magistrates’ union and the announcement of a general strike within the judiciary.

Freedom of expression

On 18 January, the Ministry of Communications suspended private television channel Canal 3 Niger and journalist Seyni Amadou after the broadcast of a report on the government’s performance. The next day, Seyni Amadou was arrested and taken into custody. On 21 January he was released and the suspension of Canal 3 Niger lifted.

In May, three journalists from Sahara FM, a radio station based in the city of Agadez, were arrested after reporting that Niger and Russia had allegedly terminated their security contract. After their arrest, acting editor-in-chief Hamid Mahmoud, news presenter Mahaman Sani, and journalist Massaouda Jaharou were transferred to the capital, Niamey. Massaouda Jaharou was freed in June, but her other two colleagues were charged with “infringing on national defence” and “plotting against state authority before a military court.”

On 3 November, several journalists were arrested, including Moussa Kaka, director of television channel Saraounia TV. Three of them were transferred to Kollo prison, charged with “complicity in the dissemination of a document likely to disturb public order” in connection with a case linked to the leak of an invitation to a press conference.

Arbitrary arrests and detentions

On 3 January, one month after his arrest, Moussa Tchangari, secretary general of the civil society organization Citizens’ Alternative Spaces, was charged with “plotting against the authority of the state through intelligence with enemy powers” and remanded in custody. Known for his public statements on governance and politics, he could face the death penalty if convicted.² He was awaiting trial at the end of the year.

In March, several former ministers and officials who had been arbitrarily arrested after the coup in January were released, with the exception of former minister of Interior Hama Adamou Souley.

Former president Mohamed Bazoum and his wife Hadiza Mabrouk, arrested during the 2023 coup, remained in arbitrary detention.

Freedom of peaceful assembly

On 23 July, the administrator of Niamey decided to ban a demonstration planned by the Independent Movement for a New Niger in Justice and Equality for “security reasons”. The movement’s demands included the independence of the judiciary, the prosecution of “economic offenders”, the strengthening of the capacities of defence and security forces, and the “immediate and unconditional” release of former president Mohamed Bazoum.

Enforced disappearances

During the night of 13-14 January, former minister of oil Mahaman Moustapha Barke was abducted from his home by men in civilian clothes and taken to an unidentified destination. At the end of the year his fate and whereabouts remained unknown.

Sexual and gender-based violence

National consultations undertaken in February by the military authorities recommended the strengthening of laws and mechanisms to protect the rights of women and children against various forms of violence and the restoration of the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and Child Protection. They also recommended that free medical expertise and holistic care (psychological, medical, legal and social) be guaranteed for victims of gender-based violence.

Refugees’ and migrants’ rights

In April, more than 6,000 people were deported from Algeria to the border town of Assamaka, where irregular migrants are often returned to, after being left without food and water in the middle of the desert.

On 17 May the government announced that, by April, there had already been a mass expulsion of 16,000 migrants from Algeria, more than half the total for the whole of 2024. The government announced a repatriation programme for more than 4,000 migrants in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration to avoid further overcrowding and a humanitarian crisis in reception centres that were already at capacity.

1. Niger: A Serious Step Back for Human Rights Since the 2023 Coup d’Etat: Amnesty International: Submission to the 52nd Session of the UPR Working Group, 10 October ↩︎
2. “Niger: Six month-long arbitrary detention of human rights defender Moussa Tchangari must end”, 3 June ↩︎