Three journalists in Niger have been jailed on accusations of helping to distribute material deemed capable of disturbing public order. The journalists were placed in custody on Monday, two days after their arrest alongside several colleagues.
The detentions have drawn renewed attention to the growing pressure on independent media under Niger’s military-led government.
In recent months, several journalists have faced prosecution. In September, reporter Hassane Zada received a 30-month prison sentence for what authorities described as “insulting remarks” against the head of the ruling regime. Around the same time, Ali Soumana, Editor of the weekly Le Courrier, was imprisoned for defamation following a complaint from Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International, say there has been a sharp increase in restrictions on civil and political freedoms since the military seized power last year.
Journalist and political analyst Ibrahim Moussa said the latest arrests reflect “an alarming trend” in how the authorities are dealing with dissent.
“What we are seeing is a steady erosion of press freedom,” Moussa said. “Reporters are being targeted for carrying out their professional duties, and that has a chilling effect on public debate.”
–ChannelAfrica–
