A Niger Republic court on Friday sentenced Moussa Tchangari, a prominent civil society leader and critic of the military-led authorities, to prison, according to his NGO, Alternative Citizen Spaces (AEC).
Tchangari, a staunch supporter of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, was detained on December 3, 2024 by unidentified gunmen at his home in Niamey after returning from an overseas trip.
He has been outspoken against the July 2023 military coup led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, describing it as a “setback” for Niger’s democracy. Bazoum, Niger’s democratically elected leader, remains imprisoned with his wife Hadiza at the presidential palace.
The Niamey court ordered Tchangari’s incarceration at Filingue prison, notorious for holding political dissidents. Located 200 kilometres northeast of Niamey, the prison is known for its harsh conditions.
AEC revealed that Tchangari, 55, is accused of “glorifying terrorism, undermining national security,” and participating in a “criminal conspiracy related to terrorism.” His phone and laptop were seized during his arrest.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, have called for Tchangari’s release, condemning what they describe as a “pervasive crackdown” on political opponents and the media since the military takeover.
Tchangari’s detention echoes his arrest in May 2015, when he was briefly held for criticising the humanitarian situation in southeastern Niger amidst a jihadist insurgency.
