Niger: 3 Years of Military Rule Deepens Human Rights Crisis
Human Rights Watch reports that Niger's military junta has significantly worsened the country's human rights situation three years after the coup. The regime has dismantled democratic institutions, detained political opponents, and restricted civil society and media.
Why it matters
The report highlights the erosion of democracy and the rule of law in the Sahel region, impacting international human rights standards.
Security Threat Spurs Crackdown on Political Opposition, Civil Society, Media
(Nairobi) – Niger ’s military junta has entrenched authoritarian rule, dismantled democratic institutions, and intensified repression since seizing power three years ago, Human Rights Watch said today.
On July 26, 2023, Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani and other Nigerien army officers overthrew the elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum. Since then, the junta has consolidated sweeping and unchecked powers, systematically weakening institutions capable of holding the military authorities to account. In the past year, the military authorities have dissolved all political parties and several independent unions , suspended dozens of civil society groups, detained journalists under a broad cybercrime law , stripped political opponents of their nationality, criminalized consensual same-sex relations, announced Niger’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), and prolonged the country’s political transition without any roadmap toward democratic elections.
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