Call for the release of nigerien human rights defender moussa tiangari after six months in custody

Human rights organizations are calling on the authorities in Niger to grant the immediate release of Moussa Tiangari, a prominent civil society activist. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) have jointly denounced the use of anti-terrorism laws to suppress peaceful dissent in the country.

Moussa Tiangari was taken from his home in Niamey on December 3, 2024, by individuals identifying themselves as police officers. By January 3, 2025, the High Court of Niamey formally charged him with serious offenses, including “conspiracy against state authority in collusion with foreign powers,” “assisting a terrorist enterprise,” and “endangering national defense.” If convicted of plotting with enemy powers, he could face the death penalty.

Following his indictment, Tiangari was moved to the Filingué detention facility, located roughly 170 kilometers from the capital. He remains in pre-trial detention without having had the opportunity to present his case before a judge regarding the validity of the allegations against him.

“The detention of Moussa Tiangari is a direct result of his human rights advocacy. We urge the government to drop all charges and release him without delay,” stated Marceau Sivieude, acting regional director for Amnesty International in West and Central Africa. He expressed deep concern over the tactical use of such accusations to silence government critics.

The activist’s arrest followed his public criticism of government policies on social media. In November 2024, he spoke out against the Ministry of Interior’s decision to revoke the licenses of two humanitarian NGOs. He also challenged the implementation of a national database for individuals suspected of terrorism, arguing it threatened the rights of Niger citizens. Under a 2024 ordinance, Tiangari now faces the potential loss of his nationality due to these terrorism-related charges.

While Niger law allows for extended pre-trial detention in terrorism cases, international observers from Human Rights Watch and FIDH note that the charges against Tiangari stem entirely from his legitimate exercise of free speech rather than any internationally recognized criminal activity.

“This case highlights a broader trend of judicial harassment by the Niger authorities aimed at neutralizing anyone who dares to speak out,” noted Drissa Traoré, Secretary General of FIDH.

Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, added that the detention serves as a warning to those monitoring the country’s shift toward authoritarianism. Meanwhile, Isidore Ngueuleu of the OMCT emphasized that Tiangari has long been a symbol of the struggle for democracy and resource sovereignty in Niger, calling his arrest a significant political error.

Background on the case

Moussa Tiangari, 55, serves as the Secretary General of Alternatives Espaces Citoyens (AEC). His arrest involved armed men in plain clothes who confiscated his electronic devices and personal belongings. His location remained a mystery for two days before he was found at a specialized counter-terrorism unit in Niamey.

Legal attempts to annul the case or move it to a different court were rejected by Niger jurisdictions in early 2025, though his legal team continues to appeal these decisions. This crackdown is part of a wider pattern of repression documented since the July 2023 coup, where military leaders have increasingly targeted political opponents and independent media voices.