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This photo taken on June 1, 2013, shows soldiers standing guard at the entrance of the main prison in Niamey. Inmates in Niamey's main prison killed two guards on June 1, officials said, a week after twin suicide bombings claimed 20 lives in the west African country. Three inmates charged with terrorist offences tried to had break out of the prison, prosecutor Ibrahim Wazir Moussa said on state television. AFP PHOTO / STRINGER (Photo credit should read STR/AFP via Getty Images)
May 28, 2025 – Niger –
In a significant move to bolster public interest journalism, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has launched a new grant program aimed at supporting Palestinian media workers. The initiative offers direct financial aid to journalists and media outlets operating in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, where the press faces immense challenges due to occupation, economic instability, and violence. The grants are part of a broader push to safeguard independent journalism, encourage investigative reporting, and ensure that Palestinian voices continue to be heard despite the pressures of conflict and censorship.
The program, funded through the IFJ’s Union to Union and Solidarity Fund, will prioritize journalists working under extreme risk or financial hardship. This support comes amid a devastating period for Palestinian media, especially in Gaza, where dozens of journalists have been killed or injured since the beginning of renewed hostilities. The IFJ emphasized the crucial role of journalism in conflict zones and reaffirmed its commitment to defending press freedom in Palestine.
Meanwhile, in West Africa, concerns over freedom of expression intensified as Nigerien authorities arbitrarily detained four journalists from Sahara FM, a privately owned radio station in Agadez. The journalists were arrested in early May 2025 following a broadcast that criticized local government decisions and called for greater transparency. No formal charges have been filed, and the detentions are widely seen as an effort to intimidate the press and suppress dissent.
Media watchdogs, including IFEX and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have condemned the arrests, urging the Nigerien military-led government to release the journalists immediately and uphold the right to freedom of expression. The case highlights growing restrictions on media in Niger since the July 2023 coup, with increased censorship, harassment, and threats against independent outlets.
Together, these two developments illustrate the fragile state of press freedom globally, where journalists face repression in some regions and receive long-overdue support in others. Both cases underscore the urgent need for international solidarity and continued advocacy to protect journalists and the public’s right to information.
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