Niger: International NGOs Urge Immediate Release of Detained Civil Society Leader Moussa Tchangari

Edited by : Widad WAHBI

Four prominent international human rights organizations issued a renewed call on Tuesday demanding the immediate release of Moussa Tchangari, a well-known civil society activist in Niger who has been detained since December 2023.

Tchangari, a vocal critic of the military regime that seized power following the July 2023 coup, faces charges including “conspiracy and collusion with hostile foreign powers” — accusations widely condemned by human rights defenders as politically motivated.

In a joint statement, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch (HRW), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) called on Niger’s military authorities to release Tchangari without delay.

“The Nigerien authorities must immediately free Moussa Tchangari, a civil society leader and human rights defender unjustly detained for exercising his fundamental freedoms,” the NGOs declared, denouncing his continued incarceration as a violation of international legal standards.

Tchangari’s arrest is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Niger, where the military junta has intensified repression against opposition voices, activists, and independent media since taking power. His detention has drawn growing concern from civil society groups both inside and outside the country.

Observers warn that such actions risk further isolating Niger internationally and undermining any prospects for a return to civilian rule and democratic governance.