Nigerien junta detains three journalists in ongoing media crackdown
The military junta in Niger has arrested three journalists from Sahara FM, a private radio station.
This incident marks another instance of escalating repression against media personnel since the junta took control following a coup in July 2023.
The three journalists—Hamid Mahmoud, the acting editor-in-chief; Mahaman Sani, who presented the news report; and Massaouda Jaharou—were detained in Agadez after reporting on alleged breaches of security contracts between Niger and its Russian ally.
Their arrest occurred shortly after they aired a segment discussing these sensitive issues, which reportedly led to police action on the same day.
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According to Ibrahim Manzo Diallo, head of the Air Info media group that owns Sahara FM, the arrests were executed by a police unit around 1:00 AM local time. Although a judge initially ordered their release after a court appearance, they were rearrested just hours later, indicating a troubling trend of arbitrary detentions targeting journalists.
Since the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, there has been a marked decline in press freedom and civil liberties in Niger.
Reports from Amnesty International and other human rights organizations indicate an increase in arbitrary detentions and restrictions on political activities and journalism.
The junta’s actions have drawn widespread condemnation from civil society groups who argue that such measures undermine democratic principles and freedom of expression.
Niger ranks 83rd out of 180 countries on the 2025 Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, reflecting a downward trend compared to previous years. The situation is exacerbated by ongoing violence from extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS, which complicates the security landscape further.
The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on media freedom where several journalists have faced intimidation or detention for covering stories related to government actions or national security issues. This environment has led many journalists to self-censor due to fears of reprisals from authorities. The case of Sahara FM’s journalists exemplifies this climate of fear where reporting on sensitive topics can lead to severe consequences.
