Niger Criminalizes Defamation and Insult: Journalists Face Prison Time Under New Law

Niger’s President Abdourahamane Tchiani, who came to power in a military coup in July 2023, has signed a decree criminalizing online defamation and insult, punishable by imprisonment and fines, according to reports.

The Committee to Protect Journalists urged Niger’s government on Thursday to reform the country’s laws, decriminalizing defamation and ensuring that the cybercrime law does not unfairly limit press freedom and journalistic work.

“The changes to Niger’s cybercrime law are a blow to the media community and a very disappointing step backwards for freedom of expression.” They added in a statement.

After seizing power in a coup last July, Abdourahamane Tchiani has reinstated harsh penalties for online defamation and insult, imposing prison sentences of up to three years and hefty fines of 5 million CFA francs ($8, 177), further stifling free speech.

Prior to the decriminalization in 2022, defamation and insult carried fines of up to 10 million CFA francs (US$16,312), while disseminating data likely to disturb public order could lead to imprisonment. The government’s reversal of this decision has sparked fears of a crackdown on free speech and journalistic freedom.

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Minister of Justice and Human Rights Alio Daouda said the decriminalization led to a surge in defamatory and insulting remarks on social media, prompting the government to take action. Daouda instructed prosecutors to vigorously pursue cases against those committing these offenses.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and other press freedom groups have expressed worries about journalists’ safety in Niger since the military coup. Recently, Idrissa Maïga, editor of L’Enquêteur newspaper, was arrested and faces charges of undermining national defense, carrying a potential sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison.

Several Nigerien journalists were imprisoned or fined for their reporting before the 2022 decriminalization, and this reversal may signal a return to a more restrictive environment for the press.