Nigeria Leads West Africa in Civic Freedom Violations – S4C Report Reveals Worrying Trend

Civic liberties across West Africa are declining rapidly, with Nigeria ranking highest in the number of recorded violations within the sub-region. This was disclosed in a recent report released by the Spaces for Change (S4C), highlighting a growing threat to democratic rights across multiple countries.

The report, titled Civic Space in West Africa: Trends, Threats and Futures, documented a total of 801 cases of civic space violations across 16 West African nations between July 2022 and December 2024. This figure represents a 26 percent rise compared to the 639 incidents recorded during the previous six-year period, showing a significant deterioration in civic freedoms throughout the region.

According to the data, Nigeria recorded 332 incidents, accounting for about 41 percent of all violations, making it the country with the highest number of cases. Other countries with high figures include Guinea with 74 cases, Mali with 70, Senegal with 66, and Burkina Faso with 57 incidents. Niger reported 42 cases, Togo 40, Sierra Leone 29, Ghana 27, Gambia 18, Côte d’Ivoire 16, Benin 13, Liberia 11, Guinea-Bissau five, Mauritania one, while Cape Verde recorded no violation within the review period.

The findings point to a systematic restriction of civic space across West Africa, with authorities increasingly relying on arrests, legal actions, intimidation, violence, and court processes to suppress opposition voices and limit public participation.

One of the major concerns raised in the report is the increasing involvement of the judiciary in actions that restrict civic freedoms. Judicial-related violations increased sharply from nine cases recorded over six years to 70 cases within less than three years, representing an increase of nearly 700 percent.
The report explained that governments are no longer only disregarding court rulings but are now using judicial systems as tools to justify repression, marking a shift from judicial inaction to judicial cooperation in limiting civil rights.

Several factors were identified as contributing to the shrinking civic space across the region. These include military coups, disputed elections, rising insecurity, abuse of digital technologies, and the rapid growth of the youth population demanding accountability. The report warned that the situation is no longer limited to individual countries but has developed into a regional pattern, describing the democratic decline as approaching what could be considered a democratic emergency by 2025.

To respond to the worsening situation, S4C proposed six major strategic actions. These include sustained engagement with judicial authorities, increased investment in digital security tools for activists and journalists, inclusion of civil society groups in counter-terrorism policies, stronger cross-border cooperation among civic organisations, and the creation of a regional emergency support fund for individuals and groups facing repression.

Speaking during the presentation of the report, S4C Executive Director Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri stated that freedom of expression remains the most frequently violated right. She noted that individuals who criticise government authorities at local, state, or federal levels are increasingly facing consequences. According to her, social media comments that challenge public officials often result in arrest, detention, prosecution, or imprisonment.

She also emphasised that the rights to association and peaceful assembly are becoming more restricted, particularly when citizens organise protests against policies they consider unfair or harmful.

Also speaking at the event, James Savage, Programme Director at the Fund for Global Human Rights, said the report reflects a wider global trend where civic space is shrinking in many parts of the world, including Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Despite the challenges, he praised the increasing participation of young people in civic activities across West Africa, noting that youth-led movements show that citizens remain determined to demand accountability and defend democratic values even in the face of growing pressure.