Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has strongly criticized Niger’s abrupt suspension of most major French news outlets, calling the move abusive and urging authorities to reverse it immediately.
Niger’s military-led government announced the blanket suspension without providing concrete examples or evidence. Officials accused nine French organizations of broadcasting material that could “gravely endanger public order, national unity, social cohesion and the stability of the institutions” and said their reporting risked undermining troop morale. The outlets named were AFP, France 24, Radio France Internationale (RFI), France Afrique Media, LSI Africa, TV5Monde, TF1 Info, Jeune Afrique and Mediapart. No time frame for the suspension was given.
RSF said the decision was based on “fabricated charges” and described it as part of a coordinated regional effort to silence independent journalism among members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The press freedom group called the ban “abusive” and demanded its immediate reversal, warning that targeting a broad range of independent media outlets sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of information.
The move comes against a tense regional backdrop. It follows a wave of media restrictions after Niger’s 2023 coup, when a military junta took power and relations with France deteriorated sharply. The junta used anti‑French sentiment and public anger over ineffective security responses to insurgency to win support, expelled French troops, signaled closer ties with Russian security actors, and moved to remove or nationalize some French commercial interests, including stakes in the uranium sector. By 2025, coup leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani had been sworn in as what the government called an interim president, beginning a five‑year transitional term.
Allies in the AES — notably Mali and Burkina Faso — have pursued similar measures. Earlier this week, Burkina Faso also suspended TV5Monde, and RFI and France 24 had already faced suspensions in the past year. These actions occur as the Sahel grapples with deepening insecurity: a recent international analysis found the Sahel accounted for a disproportionate share of global terrorism‑related deaths in 2024. Insurgent activity, including a late‑April offensive in northern Mali involving Tuareg and Islamist groups, has led to territorial losses and high‑profile casualties in Mali, and raised fears of spillover into neighboring countries including Niger.
Niger’s media suspension also arrives ahead of a high‑profile international meeting in Kenya where French President Emmanuel Macron is due to participate; AES members have indicated they will not attend.
RSF and other press freedom advocates say the bans weaken independent reporting precisely when reliable information is most needed to understand fast‑moving security and political developments. They warn that silencing major international and regional outlets will hamper transparency, reduce accountability, and limit citizens’ access to diverse perspectives.
Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah