In a chilling display of escalating repression, Niger’s military junta has detained three journalists from the independent Sahara FM radio station in Agadez, drawing sharp criticism from press freedom advocates and human rights organizations.
The detained journalists — Hamid Mahmoud, news editor; Mahaman Sani, reporter; and Massaouda Jaharou — were initially arrested between Wednesday, May 7, and Thursday, May 8, 2025, shortly after Sahara FM aired a sensitive report detailing a breakdown in Niger’s intelligence cooperation with Russia and Turkey. The report, originally published by the investigative news platform LSI, disclosed the abrupt termination of a security contract between Niger and its foreign allies, sparking tension within the corridors of power.
Though a judge ordered their release on Friday, May 9, after a court appearance where no formal charges were filed, the police defied the judiciary’s directive. In a dramatic overnight raid, authorities re-arrested the trio. Massaouda was reportedly seized from her home at approximately 1:00 a.m., while Hamid and Mahaman were detained around 7:00 a.m. the following morning. As of Saturday afternoon, all three remain in custody at the Agadez police station, where they are being subjected to intense interrogation.
This latest wave of suppression underscores the junta’s growing intolerance for dissent and its tightening grip on the flow of information since the military seized power in July 2023. Niger remains embroiled in a deadly battle against insurgent groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIS, and its alliance with international security partners is viewed as a critical component of regional stability.
However, sources close to the media community in Niger allege that the junta is becoming increasingly paranoid, resorting to arrests and intimidation to silence independent journalism and control the public narrative. Since the coup, multiple journalists have faced arbitrary detention, and several media outlets have reported threats and censorship.
Civil society groups and international watchdogs have condemned the arrests, warning that the junta’s actions mark a dangerous regression for press freedom in West Africa.
“The repeated arrest of journalists — especially after a court has ordered their release — sends a chilling message about the rule of law and the regime’s willingness to crush dissent,” said a representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
As global attention turns to Niger, the fate of these three journalists has become a litmus test for the junta’s respect for fundamental human rights. For now, Hamid, Mahaman, and Massaouda remain in detention — their voices silenced, but their story echoing across borders.
PIONEER NEWS 