In a move that has sparked widespread outcry, Niger’s military authorities have arrested Moussa Tchangari, a well-known civil society leader and critic of the government, Amnesty International reported Monday.

Tchangari, secretary general of Citizens’ Alternative Spaces (Alternatives Espaces Citoyens, AEC), was taken from his home in Niamey on December 3, 2024, by three men in plain clothes claiming to be police, without presenting a warrant. His arrest is perceived as part of a broader crackdown on dissent following the military coup led by General Abdourahamane Tiani in July 2023.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, argue that Tchangari’s imprisonment is politically motivated, aimed at stifling voices critical of the military-led government. Drissa Traoré from the International Federation for Human Rights voiced concerns, highlighting that other political figures, such as former president Mohamed Bazoum, have similarly been unjustly detained.

For days after his arrest, Tchangari’s location was undisclosed, heightening concern among international watchdogs. He was eventually found at the Central Service for Combating Terrorism and Organized Transnational Crime and is facing severe charges, including advocacy of terrorism, which his supporters dismiss as baseless.

Throughout his career, Tchangari has been a staunch advocate for human rights in Niger. This is not his first encounter with authorities; past arrests have occurred amid his efforts to spotlight issues affecting the nation, such as arbitrary detentions and governmental overreach.

In response to these developments, numerous Nigerien and international human rights organizations are demanding Tchangari’s immediate release, urging the government to cease using terrorism charges to muzzle opposition. Amnesty International’s Samira Daoud highlighted this arrest as part of an ongoing trend of suppressing dissent and called for international condemnation.

The arrest of Tchangari underscores a tense political climate in Niger, with implications for the region’s stability and democratic integrity. As Niger remains a signatory to key international human rights agreements, the actions of its current government are under heavy scrutiny from the global community, which continues to advocate for the protection of fundamental freedoms.