Lawyers representing Moussa Tchangari, a prominent critic of Niger’s ruling military junta, have condemned his ongoing detention as “illegal and arbitrary”, accusing the authorities of silencing dissent through unjustified imprisonment.
Tchangari, who leads the Nigerien civil society group Alternative Citizen Spaces, was arrested at his home on December 3, 2024 after returning from a trip abroad. Armed men detained him shortly after his arrival, reportedly for his outspoken criticism of the junta and its July 2023 coup, which he described as a “step backwards” for democracy.
He was subsequently jailed on multiple serious charges, including “apology for terrorism”, “undermining state security”, “criminal conspiracy linked to a terrorist organisation”, and “conspiracy against the authority of the state in collusion with enemy powers”.
However, his legal team has argued that there has been no progress in the case since his arrest. “For some six months now, he has been neither heard nor questioned,” the lawyers said in a statement released on Wednesday. “This is irrefutable proof that the reasons for his detention are certainly unrelated to the charges, and it reveals a desire to silence a free and critical voice.”
They added that Tchangari’s imprisonment violated both national and international legal standards. “His detention is illegal, arbitrary and constitutes a violation of the provisions of national and international legal instruments relating to human rights,” they stated.
Since taking power in a coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s military rulers have clamped down heavily on opposition figures and civil society leaders, drawing widespread criticism for their alleged use of fabricated charges to suppress dissent.
Tchangari had previously declared his “total support” for Bazoum, who remains confined to his official residence under military guard. The junta has defended its actions by citing the need to maintain stability in a country battling ongoing insurgencies, which they have vowed to address more decisively than their predecessors.
