ABIDJAN: Amnesty International warned on Friday that press freedom is under serious threat in Niger after a military coup last year overthrew the government of democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum.
The rights organization in a statement said press freedom in Niger is in jeopardy, as transitional authorities harass and arrest journalists.
According to the group since the military coup in Niger, press freedom has been curtailed and journalists are self-censoring due to fear of reprisals and intimidation.
Samira Daoud, Amnesty’s regional director for West and Central Africa said this disrespect for the right to freedom of expression and media comes at a time when people need correct information about the conflict affecting them.
Amnesty calls Niger to free journalists
She called the authorities of Niger to unconditionally free journalists detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression and to ensure that journalists can carry out their professional work without fear of harassment, detention and intimidation.
Amnesty highlighted the issue of the editor of the L’Enqueteur newspaper, Soumana Maiga, who was detained on April 24 after his paper published a story about the alleged installation of equipment by Russian agents on state buildings.
Maiga now under custody is charged with infringement of national defence and faces 10 years of imprisonment.
The rights NGO said security forces arrested Ousmane Toudou, journalist and former communications adviser to Bazoum three weeks ago after he called upon all democrats to oppose the military takeover in a post on social media.
Amnesty said Toudou has still not presented before a judge, despite the expiry of the four-day custody period.
According to annual press freedom ranking published by Reporters Without Borders on Friday, Niger slid 26 places to 80th of the 180 nations.
