A court in Niger has sentenced prominent civil society activist Moussa Tchangari to prison, just one month after his detention following a return from international travel. Tchangari, an outspoken critic of the military junta, was arrested at his home in Niamey on December 3 by unidentified men in civilian clothing, according to his NGO, Alternative Citizen Spaces (AEC).
The 55-year-old activist, known for his opposition to the July 2023 military coup led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, has been accused of “glorifying terrorism,” “undermining national security,” and participating in a “criminal conspiracy in connection with terrorism.”
Tchangari was imprisoned in the Filingue prison, located 200 kilometers northeast of Niamey, a facility notorious for holding political dissidents. His arrest followed his public criticism of the junta’s ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum, whom Tchangari had openly supported. Bazoum and his wife have been detained at the presidential palace since the coup.
During his arrest, authorities reportedly seized Tchangari’s phone and laptop, further intensifying concerns about his treatment.
Rights organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders have condemned Tchangari’s detention, linking it to a broader crackdown on dissent in Niger. In a joint statement, they called for his immediate release, decrying the junta’s growing repression of political opponents and the media.
This is not Tchangari’s first run-in with authorities. He was previously detained in May 2015 for his organization’s critical remarks about the humanitarian crisis in southeastern Niger amid the military’s fight against jihadist insurgents.
