The authorities in Niger must immediately release human rights advocate Moussa Tiangari, who has been held in arbitrary detention for six months, according to leading international human rights organizations. The call for his freedom comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of terrorism charges to silence dissenting voices in the country.
Unjust detention and baseless charges
On December 3, 2024, plainclothes officers arrested Tiangari at his home in Niamey, the capital of Niger. A month later, on January 3, 2025, the Niamey High Court formally charged him with serious offenses, including membership in a criminal association linked to a terrorist enterprise, undermining national defense, and conspiracy against state authority in collusion with foreign powers. Conviction on the last charge carries a potential death sentence.
Since his transfer to Filingué prison, 170 kilometers from Niamey, Tiangari has remained in pre-trial detention without ever appearing before a judge to review the validity of the charges. His detention violates both Nigerien law and international human rights standards, as the accusations stem solely from his legitimate exercise of free speech.
Targeted for criticism of government policies
Three weeks before his arrest, Tiangari publicly criticized two humanitarian NGOs whose licenses were revoked by the Niger Interior Minister. He also spoke out against the creation of a national terrorism database that infringes on the rights of citizens. These actions appear to have triggered the authorities’ retaliatory measures.
The terrorism-related charges could also result in the revocation of his Nigerien citizenship under an August 2024 decree establishing a database for individuals and groups associated with terrorism and national defense offenses. Under Nigerien law, such charges can lead to up to four years of non-renewable pre-trial detention—though none of the allegations against Tiangari constitute internationally recognized crimes.
International condemnation and legal battles
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), have condemned Tiangari’s detention as a blatant misuse of counter-terrorism laws. Their joint statements highlight a broader pattern of repression against critics of the military government, which seized power in July 2023.
Efforts to challenge the charges have so far failed. In March and May 2025, courts rejected motions to dismiss the case and disqualify the specialized terrorism chamber overseeing the trial. Tiangari’s legal team has filed appeals against these rulings.
Who is Moussa Tiangari?
Moussa Tiangari, 55, serves as the Secretary-General of Alternatives Espaces Citoyens (AEC), a prominent civil society organization in Niger. His arrest on December 3, 2024, followed a home raid where authorities seized his phone, laptop, and luggage. For two days, his whereabouts were unknown until he was located at the Central Service for Combating Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime in Niamey.
Demands for justice and accountability
Human rights groups have reiterated calls for Tiangari’s immediate and unconditional release, emphasizing that his detention is a direct attack on civic freedoms. Reports from early 2025 document a surge in repression against former government officials and peaceful dissenters since the 2023 coup, further eroding democratic norms in the country.
Act now: Join the global movement advocating for Moussa Tiangari’s freedom and the protection of human rights defenders in Niger.
