Niger Detains Three Journalists Over Reporting on Russian Military Cooperation

May 15, 2025 – Nigeria – 

In May 2025, Nigerien authorities detained three journalists from Sahara FM, a private radio station in Agadez, following their broadcast about the country’s military cooperation with Russia. The journalists—Hamid Mahmoud (acting editor-in-chief), Mahaman Sani (news presenter), and Massaouda Jaharou—were initially arrested on May 7 after airing a report based on an article by France-based outlet LSI Africa, which claimed that Niger had discreetly ended its intelligence cooperation with Russia and Turkey due to dissatisfaction with military equipment.

After their initial release, the journalists were rearrested on May 10, marking the second detention within four days. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have condemned these actions, calling for their immediate and unconditional release.

These arrests occur within a broader context of increasing repression of press freedom in Niger since the military coup in July 2023. Under the junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the country has seen a shift away from traditional Western alliances towards partnerships with Russia and Turkey. This geopolitical realignment has been accompanied by a crackdown on dissent, with journalists and media outlets facing heightened scrutiny and censorship.

The detentions of Mahmoud, Sani, and Jaharou underscore the precarious state of press freedom in Niger. Media organizations and human rights groups warn that such actions not only violate the rights of journalists but also hinder the public’s access to information, particularly on matters of national security and foreign policy. As international pressure mounts, the Nigerien government faces calls to uphold its commitments to freedom of expression and to cease the persecution of journalists for their professional duties.

Reference – 

https://allafrica.com/stories/202505130436.html

https://www.ghanaweb.live/GhanaHomePage/africa/Niger-3-Nigerien-Journalists-Detained-After-Broadcast-On-Russia-Military-Cooperation-2039437

3 Nigerien journalists detained after broadcast on Russia military cooperation