Publication director of “Le Canard déchaîné” jailed again
(RSF/IFEX) – Abdoulaye Tiémogo, publication director of the satirical weekly “Le Canard déchaîné”, was arrested on 18 June 2002 further to Prime Minister Hama Amadou’s filing of a complaint for “defamation”. RSF has urged the prime minister to withdraw his complaint and see to it that the journalist is released immediately. “Abdoulaye Tiémogo has been […]
Journalists released after a week in jail for defamation
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 29 May 2002 CPJ letter to President Mamadou Tandja: May 29, 2002 President Mamadou Tandja Presidential Palace, Niamey, Republic of Niger Via facsimile: +227 72 2245 Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomes the release from government custody of three leading Nigerois journalists who were arrested and […]
Two journalists and a newspaper owner jailed in Niamey
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has protested the arrests of Abdoulaye Tiémogo, publication director of the private weekly “Le Canard Déchaîné”, and Abarad Mouddour Zakara, publication director of the private weekly “La Roue de l’histoire”. Zakara was arrested and kept in police custody on 18 May 2002, following Commerce Minister Seïni Oumarou’s filing of a complaint for […]
Publication director of “Le Canard Déchaîné” released
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF welcomes the release of Abdoulaye Tiémogo, on the morning of Friday 7 December 2001, after forty-eight days in detention. Minister of Agriculture Wassalké Boukari withdrew his complaint at the start of the appeals trial. Reached via telephone by RSF, Tiémogo stated, “This was a political trial. I was arrested following a local […]
RSF seeks clarification further to adoption of law that threatens private press’s continued existence
(RSF/IFEX) – To mark the strike launched by senior management of the private press on 3 December 2001 in Niamey, RSF has asked National Assembly Speaker Mahamane Ousmane to clarify the motive for the introduction of the Finance Law 2002, which was adopted on first reading on 20 November. “This law raises private press companies’ […]
Publication director sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for defamation
(WiPC/IFEX) – On 19 October 2001, the publication director of the weekly “Le Canard Liberé”, Abdoulaye Tiémogo, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay fines and damages totalling 5.1 million CFA francs (approx. US$7,100) for “defamation.” The judgment was handed down by the Tribunal de première instance in Niamey. The court case […]
Three journalists sentenced to prison
(RSF/IFEX)- In a letter to the Niger Minister of Justice, Ali Sirsi, RSF protested the sentence of eight months in prison and a fine of 500,000 F CFA (769 euros) for Sumana Maïga, founder and owner of the weekly “L’Enquêteur”, as well as the sentencing of Dahirou Gouro and Salif Dago, managing editor and journalist […]
Niamey Magistrates’ Court refuses to release three imprisoned journalists
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to State Prosecutor Maty Moussa, RSF requested the release of three journalists from the private weekly “L’Enquêteur”. “Without commenting on the details of the case, we ask you to see to it that these three journalists are temporarily released, at least in the interim,” urged Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. […]
RSF protests arrests of three journalists in Niamey
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Minister of the Interior Ibrahim Mazou, RSF requested the release of three journalists with the private weekly “L’Enquêteur”. “We remind you that in January 2000, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and freedom of expression stated that imprisonment as punishment for the peaceful expression of an […]
Two journalists jailed for “lying” about border dispute
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 26 October 2000 CPJ press release: NIGER: TWO JOURNALISTS JAILED FOR “LYING” ABOUT BORDER DISPUTE New York, October 26, 2000 — Niger authorities have arrested two local journalists for publishing an article on an ongoing border dispute between Niger and neighboring Benin, sources in the capital, Niamey, told CPJ. […]
Two journalists detained in Niamey
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Justice Minister Ali Sirsi, RSF requested the release of Daouda Traoré and Abdoulaye Tchiémogo, editor-in-chief and managing editor, respectively, with the Niamey-based satirical private weekly “Canardo”. RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard recalled that in a document dated 14 July 1992, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights stressed that “detention […]
Journalist attacked
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing concern further to the attack on a journalist in Niamey. According to RSF’s information, during the night of 13 to 14 March 1999, Ali Sékou Maïna, editor of the weekly “La Voix du Citoyen”, was attacked by four men in civilian clothes. The men, who were unknown to him, first […]
Newspapers, radio stations threatened with closure
(IFJ/IFEX) – IFJ is disturbed by the threats against various media in Niger. According to IFJ’s information, “Le Republicain”, “Tribune du Peuple”, “La Bonne Affaire”, “Le Citoyen”, “Sahel Horizon” and “Sankore” have been threatened with closure by the Conseil Superieur de la Communication as have Anafani and RM radio stations. **Updates IFEX alert of 28 […]
Worsening of press freedom situation in Niger
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing concern further to the worsening of the press freedom situation in Niger. According to RSF’s information, the president of the Superior Council on Communications (Conseil supérieur de la communication, CSC), Daouda Diallo, announced during a press conference on 28 October 1998 that starting 31 October, all newspapers whose chief editors […]
Eleven newspapers shut down
(CPJ/IFEX)- On 13 May 1998, government authorities ordered that ten private newspapers cease operating for non-payment of taxes. The newspapers affected by the order are: “L’Anfani”, “L’Alternative”, “Le Citoyen”, “Le Flic”, “L’Enquete”, “Paon Africain”, “Le Democrat”, “Haske”, “Le Republicain”, “Tribune du Peuple”, and “Le Soleil.” “Le Republicain” was closed down despite the fact that they […]
Repression against the media continues
(RSF/IFEX) – According to information released by RSF on 14 May 1998, the organisation is concerned about the imprisonment of a journalist and the closure of ten media outlets in Niger. On 8 May 1998, Mamane Abou, editor of the private weekly “Le Republicain” and director of the New Printing House of Niger (NIN), was […]