At the initiative of RSF, 80 journalists, media owners and African press freedom defenders launch a major appeal to the Niger junta

The African press freedom community, acting for the sake of journalists in Niger, have taken up the RSF initiative, out of deep concern following the military coup of 26 July. The RSF initiative is supported by top executives from Nigerien media, including Moussa Aksar,  editor of the newspaper L’Événement, and from Africa overall, including Haman Mana, editor of the daily Le Jour in Cameroon.

The list of signatories also includes journalists’ rights advocates such as the ‘’Maison de la Presse’’ in Niger, the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), as well as the Norbert Zongo Cell for Investigative Journalism in West Africa (CENOZO).

A number of troubling events show the growing threat to press freedom since the military coup. Soufiane Mana Hassan, editor of the newspaper Le Témoin de l’Histoire, told RSF that on 28 July unidentified individuals threatened him on the street near his house, telling him to watch out what he published in his paper and  on his social media. A few days later, blogger and journalist Samira Sabou was questioned by a member of the military, who contacted her by phone, criticizing one of her social media posts. The journalist had shared a message from deposed president Mohamed Bazoum.

Threats and intimidation also target foreign journalists. On 19 August, independent journalists Amaury Hauchard and Stanislas Poyet, who are based in Niamey and contribute to a number of international media outlets, were attacked physically and verbally while covering a gathering of “volunteers for the homeland.” Poyet’s passport, as well as the journalists’ photo and radio equipment, were stolen. The two were beaten, with Hauchard requiring two stitches to his lip. Several days before, Anne Fleur Lespiaut, correspondent for the international French-language channel TV5 Monde was hit by a cyber-harassment campaign of junta supporters. Some of them demanded that she be declared “persona non grata,” while others called for a “settling of accounts” with her. RFI and France 24 broadcasters were shut down indefinitely on 3 August.

The signatories call on the CNSP to respect the work of local and international news professionals within the country. The junta must also bring an end to verbal attacks and threats against journalists, including by CNSP members, and to publicly condemn such attacks from within its ranks. Threats and attacks on journalists must be subject to criminal investigation so that those responsible can be identified and prosecuted, and so that assaults on the right to inform cease.

APPEAL OF THE  80

 “Military authorities are obliged to respect rights of journalists in the Sahel”

We, journalists, directors of media outlets and press freedom advocacy organisations, established and working in Africa, have received reports of numerous attacks on press freedom since the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) seized power in Niger on 26 July 2023.

1.  Two days after the coup, unidentified individuals attacked crews from Nigerien radio-TV broadcaster Anfani and damaged a camera from private TV channel Bonferey. They were covering a press conference by women from the political party of deposed president Mohamed Bazoum.

 2.  Journalist Soufiane Maman Hassan, publisher of the newspaper Le Témoin de l’Histoire, reported being stopped in the street by masked men. They threatened to come to his house “very soon,” to take him away. They told him to watch out for what he published in his newspaper and on his social media.

 3.  On 29 July, a member of the CNSP support committee called publicly for the indefinite suspension of western media. On 3 August, the TV channel France 24 and radio broadcaster RFI were shut down until further notice.

4.  While covering demonstrations, international media correspondents have been threatened on multiple occasions by people hostile to their presence. On 19 August three of them were attacked physically, with two of them injured. They had been covering a recruitment ceremony for Volunteers of the Homeland (VDP).

5.  On 4 August, journalist and blogger Samira Sabou received an intimidating phone call by a member of the military close to the junta after she had shared on social media, as a news item, a post by deposed president Bazoum. She condemns a “denial of the right to practice the profession ethically.”

Amid multiple calls to the CNSP to respect press freedom by the Maison de la presse  of Niger, by those who stand in solidarity with Nigerien journalists and international correspondents, we reiterate the need, in this moment of crisis, for diverse and reliable coverage of events, based on respect for the ethical standards of the profession. We demand that the junta respect the right to information, and to media pluralism and independence.

Specifically, we call on the CNSP to:

1.  Safeguard the safety of local and international journalists:

•   End verbal attacks and threats against journalists, including by CNSP members, and to publicly condemn such attacks when they occur.
• Remove all obstacles, of whatever kind, to criminal investigation of threats and attacks on journalists, which must be undertaken in order to identify and prosecute those responsible, whoever they may be.

2.  Respect media-protection legal provisions:

• The 2010 ruling on press freedom ends prison sentences for press crimes.
• Since 2022, the cyber-crime law no longer includes imprisonment for crimes committed by electronic media outlets, including slander or defamation by journalists.

 However, provisions of this law against crimes of treason, terrorism and threat to state security pose the risk of unwarranted repression of journalists.

We call on the CNSP to commit publicly to not invoke against journalists, because of their journalistic work, laws on treason, terrorism and state security.

3.  Respect citizens’ right to be informed:

•  Preserve and respect citizens’ right to be informed.
•  Lift the suspension of media outlets such as RFI and France 24.
• Maintain internet platforms and social media open, protected, inclusive and accessible.

4.  Respect media pluralism, diversity and independence

• The CNSP must treat information as a public good and respect the pluralism and independence of independent media.
• Media access to adequate and stable financing must not encounter obstacles.

Our appeal is also directed to other States in the Sahel controlled by the military. We remind them of their duty to respect the rights of journalists, especially the right of access to information, in the interest of inhabitants of the Sahel.