Niger suspends nine French media bodies: Watchdog slams ‘abusive’ decision | Censorship News
Niger’s Military Government Suspends Nine French Media Outlets in Ongoing Crackdown on Press
Niger’s military government has announced the suspension of nine French media publications, intensifying a campaign against journalists that has been prevalent since it seized power in July 2023.
The suspension, which was disclosed on Friday, targets outlets including France 24, Radio France Internationale (RFI), and Agence France-Presse (AFP). The government cited “repeated dissemination of content likely to seriously jeopardize public order, national unity, social cohesion, and the stability of institutions in the Republic” as the reason for the action.
The National Communication Observatory (ONC) stated that the suspension is “immediate” and affects satellite packages, cable networks, digital platforms, websites, and mobile applications associated with the banned organizations.
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the decision, characterizing it as “abusive.” In a statement on social media platform X, RSF criticized what it calls a “coordinated strategy” to suppress press freedom within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, all currently governed by military regimes.
The military government in Niger ousted democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum and detained him in July last year. Since then, local and foreign media outlets, particularly those critical of the government, have faced increasing scrutiny and restrictions.
RFI and France 24 were among the first outlets suspended shortly after the coup, while the BBC faced a similar fate in December 2024. This tightening of media controls coincides with Niger’s shift away from traditional alliances with France and the West, as the military government seeks to forge new partnerships, notably with Russia.
In late 2023, Niger’s government requested the withdrawal of French troops involved in counterterrorism missions in the region. It has also enacted measures aimed at criminalizing the dissemination of information deemed harmful to public order.
Local journalism has also suffered under these restrictions. This week, two Nigerien journalists were released after months in detention. Gazali Abdou, a correspondent for Deutsche Welle, and Hassane Zada, an editor for a regional newspaper, were among those previously arrested.
The United Nations reported in November that 13 journalists were being held in Niger, urging their release. Local organizations indicate that some are detained on charges related to undermining national defense and conspiracy against the state. In a further crackdown, Niger allegedly suspended nearly 3,000 local and foreign NGOs in 2025, accusing them of lacking transparency and supporting terrorism.
Niger’s stance has led to a significant drop in its ranking on the RSF World Press Freedom Index, falling 37 places to 120th out of 180 countries. Both RSF and Amnesty International have expressed growing concern over the decline of press freedom in Niger.
