Niger Detains Deutsche Welle Correspondent Over Reporting on Refugees

A Deutsche Welle (DW) correspondent based in Niamey, Niger, Gazali Abdou Tasawa, was arrested by Nigerien authorities on January 23, 2026, in connection with a news report he filed on Nigerian refugees living in makeshift conditions. The detention has drawn sharp criticism from press freedom advocates, who say it reflects a broader crackdown on independent journalism under the country’s military junta.

Tasawa, who reports for DW’s Hausa-language service, was questioned by police the day before his arrest about a report published on January 15 detailing the plight of Nigerian refugees in Niamey. The refugees described having their informal shelters demolished and being forced to sleep out in the open near a cemetery. DW told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that it had not been officially informed of any charges against Tasawa, underscoring concerns about a lack of due process and transparency in his detention.

The CPJ has called for Tasawa’s immediate release, warning that his arrest continues a pattern of criminalisation of the press in Niger, where authorities have increasingly used detention and legal action to suppress reporting that they view as critical or inconvenient. According to CPJ, Tasawa is at least the fifth journalist imprisoned in Niger for work that questions government policies or actions, making the country one of the most punitive environments for journalists in Africa.

Since a military coup in 2023, Niger has been governed by a junta led by Abdourahamane Tiani, whose administration has faced criticism for eroding civil liberties, including freedom of expression. The junta has introduced legal reforms that rights groups say broaden the scope for arbitrary arrests and detentions under vaguely defined cybercrime and national security laws. These measures have contributed to international concern over freedom of the press and civic space in the country.

DW has publicly called for Tasawa’s release, emphasising that journalists must be able to work without fear of intimidation or incarceration. The broadcaster has engaged with legal representatives and continues to seek clarity on the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Press freedom organisations, including CPJ, have echoed these calls and urged Nigerien authorities to uphold international standards for press freedom and protect journalists reporting on matters of public interest.

Tasawa’s detention comes amid an ongoing pattern of harassment against media professionals in Niger, raising broader concerns about the shrinking space for independent journalism and accountability in the West African nation.

Reference –

https://www.dw.com/en/dw-correspondent-arrested-in-niger/a-75640860

Niger arrests DW correspondent over report on Nigerian refugees