Niger’s military junta has intensified its authoritarian grip post-coup, silencing dissent through arbitrary detentions and suppressing civil liberties. A recent Amnesty International report details extensive human rights violations, including the detention of former President Bazoum and other political opponents. The junta operates without a formal legal framework, ruling by decree and targeting critics to maintain power, leading to widespread self-censorship among civil society and the media.
Niger’s ruling junta is increasingly suppressing dissent following the coup on July 26, 2023, leading to a significant erosion of civil liberties and escalating human rights violations. Reportedly, the junta has been systematically detaining opponents and silencing critical voices, creating an atmosphere of fear among citizens and isolating the nation internationally.
A recent Amnesty International report, based on a thorough investigation, highlights the junta’s repressive actions, such as enforced disappearances and violations of promises made to the public. “In the name of ‘state security’ or ‘safeguarding the homeland,’ the military leaders…have imposed authoritarian practices to silence any critical voices,” emphasized Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s acting regional director for West and Central Africa. The continued disregard for freedom of speech, association, and the right to information illustrates the junta’s oppressive policies.
The junta is particularly concerned about potential threats to its rule, including loyalists of former President Mohamed Bazoum. He, along with his wife, has been arbitrarily detained since the coup. Despite an ECOWAS ruling calling for their release, Bazoum was charged in June 2024 with “high treason”. “The junta fears being overthrown… particularly by ‘Bazoumists’ or dissent within its military,” noted a regional expert, referring to the junta’s paranoid governance style.
The junta has disregarded judicial authority, as evidenced by the ongoing detention of seven former ministers despite court orders for their release. “We are witnessing the normalization of arbitrary rule and the erosion of the rule of law,” stated Ousmane Diallo, Amnesty International’s Sahel researcher, emphasizing the degradation of legal frameworks under junta rule.
Since the coup, Niger has operated without a formal transition charter, governed solely by decrees which concentrate all powers in the hands of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. Political parties have been suspended, allowing the military leaders to act independently as they impose further restrictions that threaten civil society.
In a recent decree, the junta designated individuals or entities involved in actions against national interests, allowing for targeted repression of political critics. This has created a polarized society defined by “patriots” and “stateless persons,” as categorized by Diallo.
This oppressive environment has led to heightened fear among journalists and activists, who are wary of potential imprisonment. “If you criticize the government, you can be sure you will be arrested,” warned an individual from civil society. The atmosphere has resulted in widespread self-censorship, as the suspension of media outlets has made free flow of information nearly impossible, deepening the fears of civic engagement.
In conclusion, Niger’s ruling junta is reinforcing its grip on power through stringent repression, causing significant deterioration of civil liberties and human rights. The systematic detention of opponents, the disregard for judicial authority, and the utilization of vague decrees to target dissenters collectively illustrate the country’s alarming slide into authoritarianism. This pervasive climate of fear is profoundly impacting civil society and the media, stifling freedom of expression in Niger.
Original Source: international.la-croix.com
