Niger Republic Jails Activist Moussa Tchangari After Criticism Of Military Junta

Moussa Tchangari, a civil rights activist and critic of Niger’s military junta, sentenced to prison on charges of glorifying terrorism and national security threats.

A court in Niger Republic has sentenced Moussa Tchangari, a prominent civil rights activist and outspoken critic of the military junta, to prison. His sentencing comes a month after he was detained upon returning from an international trip.

Tchangari, known for his unwavering support of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, was reportedly taken from his home in Niamey on December 3 by unidentified men in civilian clothing. The activist has been an outspoken critic of the July 2023 military coup led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of Niger’s presidential guard. Tchangari previously referred to the coup as a significant regression for Niger’s democracy.

President Bazoum, who was democratically elected, remains imprisoned with his wife, Hadiza, at the presidential palace in Niamey following the coup.

Tchangari’s non-governmental organization, Alternative Citizen Spaces (AEC), revealed that he was transferred to Filingue prison, a facility notorious for detaining political dissidents, about 200 kilometers northeast of Niamey.

According to local reports, Tchangari is facing accusations of glorifying terrorism, threatening national security, and being involved in criminal conspiracies linked to terrorism. His arrest has sparked concern among human rights groups, as this is not his first clash with Niger’s authorities. In May 2015, Tchangari was briefly detained after his organization criticized the humanitarian response to the jihadist insurgency in southeastern Niger.

The activist’s imprisonment has intensified scrutiny of the junta’s handling of dissent and its broader political agenda.