Human rights in Niger ‘in free fall’ a year after coup, rights watchdogs say News
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Human rights in Niger ‘in free fall’ a year after coup, rights watchdogs say

The military authorities in Niger have committed numerous human rights violations in the year since the coup, according to the Thursday report released by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). Violations include the suppression of opposition and peaceful dissent, arbitrary detention of ousted government officials, and restrictions on the media.

On July 26, 2023, a military coup took place in Niger, as a result of which the National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland (CNSP) took power, and the previously elected President Mohammed Bazum, his family, and many officials of the previous government were arbitrarily detained on trumped-up charges. The coup prompted international reactions, with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposing sanctions on the coup leaders and the country as a whole, which it later lifted in February 2024 to prevent the country’s exit from the block.

After the coup, Mohamed Bazoum and his wife remained in detention despite a call for their release by ECOWAS, and criminal cases were opened against Mohamed. With the support of an interior ministry judge, in June 2024, the authorities were able to lift Mohamed Bazoum’s immunity without a fair trial, in violation of international standards of justice and the right to defense, so he can be prosecuted for committing alleged crimes after being elected president in 2021.

It is also reported that significant restrictions by the authorities have begun to manifest themselves in the area of media freedom, as well as in the violation of human rights and lack of fair trial for those arrested. A number of journalists have been arrested, charged with disturbing public order, and faced physical and psychological coercion in prison, while others have faced threats, leading to self-censorship. The authorities also closed down the independent media organization House of Press and created a new steering committee headed by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Actions of the Niger authorities violate the norms of national law, as well as the country’s international obligations, according to the report. The actions against journalists and bloggers violate the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Niger ratified in 1986. The suspension in May 2024 of visits by human rights organizations to prisons is a violation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which Niger ratified in 1988. Concern about the transparency and accountability of the country’s leadership is also caused by the signing by the country’s new leader Tiani, who promised to fight corruption, of a decree exempting military spending from laws on public procurement and accounting.

In addition, recent amendments in mid-June 2024 to the 2019 cybercrime law reintroduced the possibility of imposing prison sentences. This law led to restrictions on human rights, including freedom of expression in the online space, in 2020, however, the Bazuma-led government amended the law in 2022, replacing prison sentences with fines for defamation offenses. New amendments make it easier for the regime to prosecute journalists and other citizens for disseminating information that could disrupt public order.

Friday marks the one-year anniversary of the country’s coup, while international NGOs continue to express concern about human rights abuses in the country. Active public oversight can significantly contribute to holding military officials accountable for their actions, ensuring effective management of public resources and maintaining public confidence in management structures, and respect for human rights in turn forms a solid foundation for building a democratic and responsible society.

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