A Year of Injustice: Moussa Tchangari, Symbol of a Silenced Civil Society

Niamey, December 3, 2025 - One year ago today, Moussa Tchangari was arrested in Niamey by armed men without a warrant.

Since then, the Secretary General of Alternative Espaces Citoyens, a respected and steadfast figure in Nigerien civil society, remains imprisoned in Filingué Prison. Accused of “apology for terrorism” and “undermining national defense,” he has only been questioned twice in ten months, while international organizations such as Amnesty International, the FIDH, and several UN experts denounce his arbitrary and politically motivated detention.

Moussa Tchangari is not unknown. For decades, he has defended human rights, social justice, and the dignity of Nigeriens under all regimes, never yielding to fear or pressure. His career demonstrates remarkable consistency: denouncing abuses, protecting the most vulnerable, and reminding the authorities of their obligations to the people. Today, this commitment has earned him imprisonment, even though he has simply been exercising his role as a vigilant citizen.

Under the transition led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, critical voices appear to have become the primary targets. The government relentlessly attacks men and women recognized for their integrity and civic engagement, while those who plunge the country into insecurity or anarchy benefit from astonishing leniency. This reversal of priorities creates a disturbing climate of arbitrariness, where loyalty to the nation is paradoxically rewarded with prison.

The prolonged imprisonment of Moussa Tchangari illustrates the excesses of a regime that conflates dissent with threats, criticism with treason. By targeting human rights activists rather than actual criminals, the authorities are undermining not only the rule of law but also the trust of the Nigerien people. The immediate and unconditional release of Moussa Tchangari remains, now more than ever, a demand for justice and a democratic imperative.