The NGOs Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International demanded, Thursday October 26, the immediate release of people “arbitrarily” detained in Niger by the military regime resulting from the July 26 coup, also denouncing a repression against journalists and opponents of power. The Nigerien authorities “should release people arbitrarily detained”, indicate the two NGOs in a press release. The military regime must “enforce human rights and guarantee freedom of the press,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, Sahel researcher for HRW, quoted in the text.
The two NGOs recall that since the coup which overthrew him, President Mohamed Bazoum has been detained in his presidential residence with his wife and son. They add that several ministers of the fallen regime have been incarcerated in different prisons across the country. Amnesty and HRW “consider their detentions to be arbitrary because they are politically motivated.”
They also claim that “authorities have threatened, harassed, intimidated and arbitrarily arrested journalists, young people and suspected political opponents, as well as people expressing critical opinions.” Journalists in Niger “are under increased pressure in the exercise of their activities”, they underline, adding that “local and international journalists have been threatened, verbally harassed online and physically attacked”.
The two organizations mention the case of Nigerien journalist Samira Sabou, arrested on September 30 and charged in particular with “production and dissemination of data likely to disturb public order”, then provisionally released on October 11. They also denounce the suspension of the broadcasting of Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24, ordered by the military authorities at the beginning of August. “Self-censorship has become a survival tactic for many of us,” said a Nigerien journalist quoted by HRW.
Furthermore, NGOs report physical violence committed according to them by supporters of the regime in the streets of Niamey.
