Amnesty International has condemned Niger’s military rulers for escalating human rights violations since they seized power in July 2023.
The rights group’s new report highlights a growing clampdown on civil liberties, including arbitrary detentions, media suppression, and disregard for judicial rulings.
The military junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, overthrew president Mohamed Bazoum, citing worsening security conditions and governance issues. However, Amnesty’s findings suggest that the junta’s actions have worsened human rights abuses, betraying promises to uphold the rule of law. Since the coup, political activities have been severely restricted, with political parties suspended and the constitution of Niger effectively nullified.
Among the most significant violations, Amnesty noted the continued detention of former president Bazoum, his wife, and several former cabinet ministers, despite a ruling from the ECOWAS Court of Justice demanding their release. Also journalists and civil society members have faced increased persecution, with several media outlets having been suspended, and journalists critical of the regime arrested and charged with treason.
The report also documents the reinstitution of defamation laws and the arbitrary use of national security laws to target government critics. Amnesty’s interim regional director, Marceau Sivieude, stressed that the junta must honor its commitments to human rights, calling for the immediate release of all those detained without trial and the restoration of fundamental freedoms. Despite sharing these findings with the Nigerian government in February 2025, Amnesty has yet to receive a response.