Niger’s military junta has announced the suspension of BBC radio broadcasts for three months, accusing the broadcaster of disseminating erroneous information likely to destabilise social peace and undermine troop morale during ongoing battles against insurgents.
The suspension, ordered by Communications Minister Sidi Mohamed Raliou, takes effect immediately across the country. The junta, which seized power in a coup in July 2023, has previously banned other Western media outlets, including France’s RFI and France 24, as part of its control over information.
BBC programmes are widely disseminated through partnerships with local radio stations. The suspension marks another blow to media freedom in Niger, where international outlets play a critical role in providing information amidst political and security challenges.
The junta claims the BBC’s content undermines the morale of troops engaged in combat against groups linked to Al-Qaeda and other insurgents. These groups have waged a violent campaign in the region, killing over 1,500 civilians and soldiers in Niger over the past year, according to conflict monitor ACLED—more than double the casualties recorded the previous year.
Since the coup, Niger’s junta has systematically curtailed press freedom. The ban on the BBC follows the suspension of Radio France Internationale and France 24 in August 2023. Such measures highlight the regime’s increasing sensitivity to external scrutiny and its efforts to suppress narratives it deems unfavourable.
Through the ongoing insurgency and political upheaval, media restrictions have raised concerns among rights groups and international observers over the junta’s handling of free expression and public discourse.
