Niger suspends nine French media outlets over alleged threats to public order
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On Tuesday Burkina Faso, an ally of neighbouring Niger and Mali within the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), all led by military juntas, banned the broadcast of TV5 Monde.
Niger, ruled by a junta hostile to Western countries, on Friday suspended nine French media outlets that could "seriously endanger public order".
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A statement broadcast on state television said the suspended media had repeatedly broadcast content "likely to seriously endanger public order, national unity, social cohesion and the stability of institutions" in Niger.
They are France 24, Radio France Internationale, France Afrique Média, LSI Africa, AFP (Agence France-Presse), TV5 Monde, TF1 Info, Jeune Afrique and Mediapart.
The suspension is "immediate" and applies to "satellite packages, cable networks, digital platforms, websites and mobile applications".
RFI and France 24 had already been suspended a few days after the coup d'état in July 2023 that brought the junta to power.
In December 2024, the British BBC was suspended.
Bans in Burkina Faso and Mali
On Tuesday, Burkina Faso, an ally of Niger and Mali within the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), all ruled by military juntas, banned the broadcasting of the TV5 Monde channel.
The junta accuses the French television channel of "disinformation" and "apology for terrorism" in its coverage of jihadist violence in this West African country and in Mali. Reporters Without Borders condemned "a ban based on opaque elements".
Mali, shaken by unprecedented jihadist and rebel attacks, has also banned French media.
Niger's decision comes just days before an important summit between France and African countries in Kenya. None of the three junta-ruled countries is taking part.
Anti-French sentiment is running high in some of Africa's former colonies, at a time when the continent is once again becoming a diplomatic battleground, marked by the growing influence of Russia and China.
Press freedom in free fall
Several Western media outlets have already been suspended since the new government came to power in Niger in a coup d'état in July 2023. Since then, this vast Sahelian country has begun a divorce with France, the former colonial power, notably by obtaining the departure of its army engaged in the fight against the jihadists.
The government in Niamey has turned to other partners, including Russia, and regularly denounces "imperialism", asserting its "sovereignty".
Nigerien journalists working for foreign or local media are also targeted by the junta.
This week, two Nigerien journalists, Gazali Abdou, correspondent for the German radio station Deutsche Welle, and Hassane Zada, editor-in-chief of a regional newspaper, were released after having been imprisoned for several months.
In 2025, 13 journalists were arrested in Niger, according to the UN, which had called for their release.
According to the local media, six journalists are still being held in Niger, notably on charges of undermining national defence and plotting against the state.
In 2026, Niger fell 37 places in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) world press freedom index, to 120th out of 180 countries.
RSF and Amnesty International have repeatedly expressed their deep concern about press freedom violations in Niger.
In 2024, Niger enacted a law criminalising the online dissemination of "information likely to disturb public order".
The country also suspended nearly 3,000 local and foreign NGOs in 2025, accusing them of a lack of transparency and of supporting "terrorists" or armed groups.
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