Mohamed Bazoum, a former interior minister and the candidate of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya), won 55.7 percent of the vote in a February 2021 runoff. Bazoum succeeded term-limited incumbent Mahamadou Issoufou, marking the first transfer of power between elected presidents in Nigerien history.

The elected government was overthrown in July 2023, when the presidential guard launched a coup and placed Bazoum and his family under house arrest. The junta then established the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), which is now the state’s main decision-making body in the continued absence of a transitional assembly. Civilian ministers were detained in the days following the coup; the former finance, interior, and energy ministers, who were charged with endangering state security, remained in custody even after a court ordered their release in July 2024.

Within days of the coup, General Abdourahamane Tiani, who orchestrated it, proclaimed himself head of state. In early August 2023, the CNSP appointed Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, an economist and former finance minister, as prime minister. Later that month, a government was formed with ministers from civil society and various military branches. Also that August, the junta announced its intention to prosecute Bazoum for high treason and endangering national security. Bazoum and his wife remained in detention at the end of 2024. Their son was initially detained with them but was released in January.

ECOWAS called on the coup plotters to restore the civilian government, threatening military action in August 2023. While that armed response did not materialize, ECOWAS imposed sanctions on the regime, which it largely rescinded in February 2024, a month after the junta said it would end its membership in the regional bloc. General Tiani initially promised a national dialogue and a transition to civilian rule within three years, but no progress has been made towards these goals.

Niger had a 171-member, unicameral National Assembly, but the civilian government’s institutions were suspended by military authorities after the 2023 coup. In April 2024, the CNSP abolished local and regional councils, which had been elected in 2020. There is no timetable for elections or an end to the transition period.

The last parliamentary elections were held in December 2020, and ECOWAS observers called these elections relatively free and fair. The PNDS-Tarayya won 80 seats, the Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation (MODEN/FA-Lumana) won 19, and the Patriotic Movement for the Republic (MPR-Jamhuriya) and the National Movement for the Development of Society (MNSD-Nassara) each won 13.

In the past the electoral code offered a framework for fair elections, but the opposition cast doubt on the impartiality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Constitutional Court, which approved candidate lists and validated election results. However, the military authorities who seized power in July 2023 suspended governing institutions and the constitution. New institutions are now largely created and run by presidential decree.

Political parties were allowed to organize and conduct their activities before the July 2023 coup. However, the PNDS-Tarayya employed a variety of tactics to interfere in the operation of opposition parties, including persecution of opposition leaders and the co-opting of key opposition figures. Over 150 political parties were registered as of November 2020.

The parties that aligned themselves with former opposition leader Mahamane Ousmane during the last presidential election supported the junta after it seized power in July 2023. While the CNSP suspended political-party activity, some CNSP officials are affiliated with existing parties like MODEN/FA Lumana. Many members of the CNSP are allies of former President Issoufou and many, including Tiani, made progress in their careers under his administration.

Opposition parties faced serious difficulties challenging the dominance of the PNDS-Tarayya before the July 2023 coup, in part due to repression and the co-opting of opposition figures. The CNSP has halted political-party activity since taking power, preventing opposition groups from winning official positions. In April 2024, the CNSP abolished local and regional councils, which had last been elected in 2020. As of late 2024, no timetable has been provided for elections in Niger, and discussion of the topic is considerably muted.

Score Change: The score declined from 1 to 0 because the ruling junta dissolved local and regional councils and presented no plan to hold elections or return to civilian rule, further reducing prospects for opposition groups to win political representation.

Niger has experienced several coups, most recently in 2010 and July 2023, and the military maintained considerable influence in the interim. The previous government claimed to foil coup attempts in 2015, 2018, and 2021.

The presidential guard was strengthened during former President Issoufou’s tenure to prevent coup attempts from other elements of the Nigerien army. General Tiani was appointed as the head of the presidential guard in 2011 and was reappointed during Bazoum’s presidency. Tiani was the primary instigator of the July 2023 coup and has consolidated his hold on power.

Before the July 2023 coup, the law provided for equal opportunity for all Nigeriens to seek political office and participate in political processes. However, women were underrepresented both in elected and cabinet positions. A parity law adopted in 2020 called for women to hold 25 percent of parliamentary seats and 30 percent of cabinet positions. The parliamentary quota was reached in the December 2020 elections, but Bazoum’s cabinet did not include the mandated number of female members. Only four women were included in a cabinet installed by the CNSP in August 2023.

While the Hausa and Zarma (or Djerma) ethnic groups previously enjoyed dominance in many government positions, ethnic minorities had become more visible in politics, particularly Tuareg and Arab individuals. Bazoum was the country’s first Arab president and is a member of the Ouled Slimane, a small ethnic-Arab group; political opponents had labeled Bazoum a “foreigner” due to his ethnic identity. Nomadic groups, including the Fulani, were underrepresented in elected positions and experienced difficulty registering to vote.

Some Tuareg leaders believe that ethnic minorities are at risk of marginalization under the CNSP. Bazoum and Issoufou maintained relatively close ties with the Tuareg and Arab populations in northern Niger, while the coup leaders reportedly favor the country’s Hausa and Zarma communities.

Elected officials were forced from their posts by the military authorities after the army seized power in July 2023. The unelected CNSP makes political decisions and implements policies. The prime minister is a civilian, but many military personnel serve in the cabinet and hold de facto executive power.

Before the coup, the High Authority for Combating Corruption and Related Crimes (HALCIA) was the official anticorruption body, though the government often refused to carry HALCIA recommendations through or pursue identified cases of corruption in court. Bazoum repeatedly emphasized his desire to combat corruption in Niger, but elements of the PNDS-Tarayya were involved in corruption cases. Political opponents and Nigerien citizens regarded Bazoum as corrupt or otherwise unable to fight corruption.

In November 2023, the CNSP established the Commission to Combat Financial, Economic, and Fiscal Delinquency (COLDEF), an anticorruption commission staffed by judges, soldiers, police officers, and civil society members. COLDEF has prioritized the speedy recovery of assets and has restricted defendants’ access to legal representation.

In February 2024, the CNSP removed financial controls on military spending, exempting both military and presidential spending from procurement and reporting rules.

Implementation and enforcement of the 2011 Charter on Access to Public Information and Administrative Documents was uneven under the civilian government. Government information related to resource extraction and state-operated companies often went undisclosed.

The military officials who took power in July 2023 have not regularly discussed their decisions publicly, save for some CNSP decisions revealed through media interviews and statements.

In 2010, Niger adopted a press law eliminating prison terms for media offenses and reducing the threat of libel cases. However, journalists still faced difficulties, including occasional police violence while covering protests, and detention or prosecution in response to critical or investigative reporting. The CNSP restricted media activity after seizing power. Since then, journalists have been subjected to violence, surveillance, and intimidation. Journalists have engaged in self-censorship for fear of arrest and harassment. Analysts have also identified increased activity from disinformation networks affiliated with Russia.

The CNSP has targeted foreign media outlets since taking power. In August 2023, France 24 and Radio France International (RFI) reported that their radio broadcasts were being interrupted in Niger. In December 2024, the government suspended radio broadcasts from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Also in December, Niamey said it would file a legal complaint against RFI, accusing the broadcaster of spreading disinformation with “genocidal overtones.”

Enforcement of the 2019 Cybercrime Law was loosened under Bazoum, and the law had been amended to replace prison sentences for defamation and insult offenses with fines. But in June 2024, military authorities announced that they had amended the Cybercrime Law to reimpose prison sentences for a variety of offenses, including defamation.

In January 2024, Press House, an organization which represented journalistic media, was shut down by the authorities, who replaced it with an organization under the Interior Ministry. In April, the publisher of the newspaper L’Enquêteur, Soumana Idrissa Maïga, was arrested and charged with endangering national defense. He was provisionally released from detention in July. Also in April, journalist Ousmane Toudou was charged with plotting against state security over a social media post in which he criticized the military government.

Score Change: The score declined from 2 to 1 because the CNSP has restricted media activity and arrested and intimidated journalists since seizing power in 2023.

Freedom of religion was legally guaranteed under the civilian government, but there were some constraints on religious expression and worship in practice. The rise of militant groups increased the threat of violence against Christians. In 2019, citing security concerns, the civilian government adopted a law that imposed greater control over religious activities, including building places of worship, preaching, and religious education. The CNSP has consulted with a range of religious leaders since taking power and has not curtailed religious freedoms.

Academic freedom was generally upheld by the civilian government, but insecurity and heavy-handed responses to campus protests affected academic freedom. The military authorities have stripped some academics of their positions: In late August 2023, General Tiani removed several academics who did not sign a petition supporting the CNSP. Most academic research remains largely undisturbed.

Under Bazoum, freedom of expression was generally upheld in Niger. However, the government showed some intolerance of criticism, and prosecuted people over social media comments. Under the CNSP, criticism of the regime is deemed unpatriotic. Nigeriens refrain from publicly speaking out against the military authorities, while government supporters are vocal.

In August 2024, the CNSP announced the creation of a new antiterrorist database that would allow authorities to investigate and punish individuals suspected of a variety of public-order offenses. The law allows for greater surveillance and includes strict punishments, including asset seizures and loss of citizenship.

Freedom of assembly was constitutionally guaranteed but was not always respected by the civilian government, with authorities sometimes using force to break up demonstrations and the government banning some rallies in 2022.

Rallies in support of the coup leaders were allowed to proceed after it occurred in 2023, while PNDS-Tarayya supporters who protested the coup were arrested.

Occasional demonstrations still occur in Niger. In May 2024, the Democratic Confederation of Workers of Niger called on the CNSP to overturn the ban on political parties’ activities in a rally.

The civilian government occasionally restricted the operations of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and a lack of security in certain regions impeded their functioning. The government restricted the movement of UN personnel and aid workers without military escort in some areas, impacting the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

After the July 2023 coup, activists and NGOs adapted their agendas to avoid direct conflict with the junta. UN aid was initially disrupted by sanctions placed on Niger and by the military government’s decision to close Nigerien airspace, but these restrictions were largely lifted.

Restrictions on civil society organizations and activists, however, have tightened. In May 2024, authorities prohibited NGOs from visiting prisons, citing public order. In late 2024, two NGOs, one French and one Nigerien, lost their licenses to operate in the country, without clear justification. In December, prominent human rights activist Moussa Tchangari was detained on terrorism charges. He remained in detention at year’s end.

While the constitution and other laws previously guaranteed workers the right to join unions and bargain for wages, a large portion of the workforce is employed informally and lacks access to formal union representation. The legal definition of “essential” workers not permitted to strike is broad. Unions have largely sought to accommodate military authorities.

While an independent judiciary still exists under the CNSP, its powers and reach are often constrained or circumvented in practice. Before the July 2023 coup, the constitution provided for an independent judiciary and courts had shown some level of independence, but the judicial system was subject to executive interference. In the CNSP’s second decree, published in July 2023, the Court of Cassation and Council of State were abolished and replaced by the State Court, whose function and membership are determined by presidential decree.

Arbitrary arrests and imprisonment were frequent under the civilian government. Many people accused of crimes were held in pretrial detention for extended periods of time, sometimes in the same population as convicted individuals. Arrests are not well-documented under the CNSP because access to information is poor. States of emergency declared in several regions have allowed the army to engage in mass arrests and detain those suspected of links with terrorist organizations.

Individuals deposed in the July 2023 coup have not benefited from due process. Many members of the former government, including former ministers, were arrested in secret by intelligence authorities. While some have been released, most remain in detention, subject to trial in military courts. In November 2024, the junta stripped the nationality of seven people affiliated with the civilian government, having accused them of terrorist activity or collaborating with a foreign nation. The junta gave itself the power to strip individuals of their nationality with the August announcement of an antiterrorist database.

In December 2023, the ECOWAS Court of Justice ordered the release of former President Bazoum, but the CNSP did not comply with the order. In mid-2024, Bazoum’s lawyers said they had not had contact with him since October 2023. In June 2024, Bazoum was stripped of his immunity, clearing the way for him to be tried for high treason.

Score Change: The score declined from 2 to 1 because the junta has denied due process to members and supporters of the deposed civilian government, who remained in detention or faced disproportionate criminal charges during the year.

Nigeriens face insecurity due to ongoing militant activity. Several militant groups, including Boko Haram, are active in Nigerien territory and are known to attack civilians and military personnel.

The civilian government had imposed states of emergency within the regions of Diffa, Tillabéri, and Tahoua over ongoing insecurity. Bazoum announced that his government had opened a dialogue channel with jihadist groups operating in Tillabéri in early 2022. Security improved in Tillabéri in early 2023, as the civilian government worked to improve dialogue between communities and with jihadist groups. The security situation has deteriorated since the July 2023 coup. Insurgent and militia violence has intensified in the southwest of Niger and the state’s control is diminishing.

In late 2023, Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AÉS) along with Burkina Faso and Mali. The AÉS is effectively the region’s primary security guarantor. In March 2024, the government ended a military-cooperation agreement with the United States, ordering its contingent of troops to leave Nigerien territory; that presence was withdrawn by September. In April, the Russian government sent military equipment and personnel to Niger at Niamey’s request.

The rights of ethnic minority groups are protected by law, but discrimination persists in some respects in practice. Same-sex sexual activity is not illegal in Niger, but same-sex relationships are highly stigmatized, and there is no protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The now-suspended 2010 constitution prohibited gender discrimination, though women suffered widespread discrimination in practice. The application of the law by customary courts often discriminates against women.

Nigerien authorities have made efforts to accommodate Malian and Nigerian refugees as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs). Burkinabè, Malian, and Nigerian refugees continued to enter Niger after the July 2023 coup. In a December 2024 update, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said there were 507,400 IDPs and 421,800 refugees and asylum seekers in Niger.

Before the coup, the constitution guaranteed freedom of movement, but this was hampered by militant activity and the need to bribe security officials at checkpoints. Internal displacement affects large numbers of Nigeriens. Insecurity has worsened in many parts of the country, particularly the southwest and the areas bordering Mali and Burkina Faso.

In November 2023, the CNSP repealed a 2015 law that criminalized human smuggling. This law had effectively limited movements towards the northern border regions of Niger and resulted in prosecutions of smugglers who profited off of migration routes towards Algeria and Libya. Since the repeal of the law, there is greater freedom of movement in these regions of Niger, though migrants often face violent and risky conditions.

Several complications undermine legal guarantees of the right to own property. Few people hold formal ownership documents for their land, though customary law provides some protection. The enforcement of both state and customary law often gives way to tension and confusion. Women have less access to land ownership than men due to inheritance practices and inferior status in property disputes.

Family law gives women inferior status in divorce proceedings. Female genital mutilation was criminalized in 2003 and has declined, but it continues among a small percentage of the population. Penalties for rape are heavy, but societal attitudes and victims’ fears of retribution have discouraged reporting, and when rape is reported it is often poorly investigated.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) both reported that proregime vigilantes sexually attacked several women in Niamey after the July 2023 coup.

Domestic violence is not explicitly criminalized, though women may lodge criminal allegations of battery against partners. Some cases have resulted in convictions, but reporting is similarly discouraged in practice.

Although slavery was criminalized in 2003 and banned in the now-suspended 2010 constitution, it remains a problem in Niger. Different practices of slavery persist according to the NGO Timidria. Estimates of the number of enslaved people vary widely but are generally counted in the tens of thousands. Niger remains a source, transit point, and destination for human trafficking. Young people have been forced to work as beggars in major cities in recent years.