Arrest of Nigerien Journalists Sparks Outcry at Home and AbroadNIAMEY, Niger - The detention of three prominent journali

On Monday, November 3, 2025, the Niamey High Court ordered the detention of Ibro Chaibou (Radio Télévision Saraounia, RTS), Youssouf Sériba (Les Échos du Niger), and Oumarou Kané (Le Hérisson). The three were transferred to Kollo prison under a mandat de dépôt following their arrest two days earlier. They were among seven individuals, including Moussa Kaka, Director-General of RTS, detained on November 1. While Mr. Kaka and three others were released after interrogation, the remaining three journalists face charges reportedly tied to “complicity in disseminating a document likely to disturb public order.”

The arrests have provoked strong condemnation from human rights advocates and media organizations, who view them as part of a growing pattern of restrictions on the press.

On Friday, November 7, 2025, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued a statement from Geneva, urging Nigerien authorities to “release all detained journalists and end all proceedings that exceed the strict limits set by international human rights law.” The UN statement noted that 13 journalists have been arrested in Niger so far in 2025 under charges including defamation, endangering state security, and conspiracy, often based on the revised cybercrime law adopted in June 2024.

Observers warn that the escalating use of legal instruments to prosecute media workers threatens to erode public trust and stifle debate at a time when transparent communication is critical to Niger’s political and security landscape.