Military occupies private radio station

On 6 July 1996, soldiers evacuated and occupied the offices of ANFANI FM 100 MHZ, a privately-owned radio station in Niamey. As of 11 July, the station had not broadcast since the beginning of the occupation. According to Gremah Boucar, director of the private media group, AGENCE ANFANI, which owns ANFANI FM 100 MHZ and […]

On 6 July 1996, soldiers evacuated and occupied the offices of
ANFANI FM 100 MHZ, a privately-owned radio station in Niamey. As
of 11 July, the station had not broadcast since the beginning of
the occupation.

According to Gremah Boucar, director of the private media group,
AGENCE ANFANI, which owns ANFANI FM 100 MHZ and the newspaper
“Anfani”, the military arrived at 22:20 hours on 6 July,
surrounded the station and forced employees to leave the premises.
The soldiers confiscated the keys to the property and offices and
have since prohibited the staff from entering to work. Boucar said
that ANFANI FM management expected this type of action from the
military because the station has covered the political opposition
during the current presidential election period. Niger’s military
ruler General Ibrahim Bare Mainassara, who led the overthrow of
former president Mahamane Ousmane in January, claimed an outright
victory of the elections held on 7 and 8 July, shortly after
dissolving the Independent National Electoral Commission, imposing
a nationwide ban on demonstrations and public gatherings, and
cutting international telephone lines. Boucar also expressed
fears of escalated government threats and harrassment against the
media group in the near future.

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