Amnesty International has accused Niger’s military junta of widespread human rights abuses and suppression of civil liberties since seizing power in July 2023. The organisation’s report, released on Tuesday, claims that arbitrary detentions, media crackdowns, and judicial disregard have escalated despite the junta’s initial promises to uphold the rule of law.
Former president Mohamed Bazoum, who was overthrown by General Abdourahamane Tiani over security failures, remains in detention with his wife. The military government, which justified the coup by citing worsening security and economic challenges, has instead overseen “a sharp escalation of human rights violations,” according to Amnesty’s interim regional director, Marceau Sivieude.
The report highlights the suspension of Niger’s constitution, restrictions on political activities, and the reintroduction of defamation laws leading to jail sentences. Amnesty warns that criticism of the junta often results in arrest, with journalists and civil society members particularly targeted.
Despite submitting its findings to Nigerien authorities in February, Amnesty has received no response. The country, which recently withdrew from the ECOWAS bloc alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, continues to face instability amid ongoing jihadist threats in the Sahel region.
