Niger’s military government has accused global human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, of publishing reports that undermine the nation’s image. The junta claims these accounts are biased and fail to recognize its efforts to balance security with respect for fundamental rights.

The accusations come amid growing scrutiny of the junta’s actions following the July 2023 coup that brought General Abdourahamane Tiani to power. NGOs have repeatedly raised alarms about political repression and alleged human rights violations, particularly in handling terrorist threats across the Sahel region.

While recent reports suggested the junta had banned HRW and Amnesty International, both organizations confirmed they had not been formally barred from operating in Niger. However, they acknowledged increasing restrictions and emphasized their commitment to working through local partners, as neither maintains offices in the country.

Since seizing power, the military government has suspended nearly 200 local and international organizations, citing alleged violations of operational rules. Among those affected is Transparency International’s Nigerien branch, which combats corruption.

Wada Maman, the Secretary of Transparency International in Niger, expressed skepticism about the junta’s commitment to human rights. “It is not true that human rights are protected and that the international laws signed by Niger are accepted,” he said, accusing authorities of attempting to silence dissent.

Meanwhile, pro-government voices, like the advocacy group Debout Niger, have defended the military rulers’ stance. The organization’s leader, Ismael Mohamed, insisted that NGOs criticizing the government were tarnishing Niger’s reputation. “Anyone who tries to interfere in Niger’s affairs will be thrown out of the country,” he warned.

For NGOs still operating in Niger, the situation remains precarious. Abdoul Aziz of Mojedec, a youth education organization, urged collaboration between the government and NGOs. “Both sides should be listened to,” he said. “We urge the government of Niger to work with the NGOs.”

The arrest of Moussa Tiangari, Secretary General of the activist group Alternatives Espaces Citoyens (AEC), has drawn particular attention. HRW and Amnesty International condemned his detention earlier this month, labeling it arbitrary.

According to Tiangari’s wife, unidentified armed men posing as police officers forcibly entered their home and detained him. “They ordered him to follow them quietly because they didn’t want anyone to know what was going on,” she told HRW, speaking anonymously for her safety.

This incident is part of a broader trend of crackdowns on dissent. Drissa Traore, Secretary-General of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), emphasized that individuals like Tiangari, along with former President Mohamed Bazoum and his wife, should not be in custody.

Similar cases of suppression have surfaced in neighboring Sahel nations. In Mali, regime-critical imam Mahmoud Dicko’s associate Youssouf Daba Diawara was arrested during an unauthorized protest and later released. Opposition figure Oumar Mariko fled the country, decrying his exile as punishment for exercising free speech.

Regional Repercussions of Military Rule

Military-led governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Chad have adopted similarly heavy-handed approaches to dissent. In Burkina Faso, critics have faced imprisonment or conscription into military service. Former minister Ablasse Ouedraogo, over 70 years old, was reportedly forced into military duty.

Burkina Faso’s opposition leader Ablasse Ouedraogo was forced to fight on the forntline against Islamists by the junta

In Guinea, human rights activists Mamadou Billo Bah and Oumar Sylla were abducted in July 2024 and remain missing. The government has denied involvement, but suspicions persist.

Chad has seen deadly outcomes for political opponents. Yaya Dillo, leader of the Socialist Party without Borders (PSSF) and a prominent critic of the junta, was killed during a military operation in March. While his death was officially not classified as an assassination, his family described it as “murder.”

As Niger’s junta grapples with international criticism, the broader region faces an unsettling pattern of political repression and silenced dissent. For human rights organizations and activists, the challenge lies in navigating hostile environments while advocating for accountability and justice.