Niger

Benin and Burkina Faso: Reverse the suspension of media outlets

CIVICUS, the global alliance of civil society organisations, condemns the decision by the governments of Benin and Burkina Faso to suspend media outlets over their coverage of the recent coup in Niger. On 8 August 2023, La Haute Autorité de l'Audiovisuel et de la Communication (HAAC), a commission responsible for the management and development of public information and communication in Benin, suspended Gulf Media Group , a private media house that owns Golfe Fm, Golfe TV, and the weekly Gazette du Golfe. Their digital channels have also been suspended from airing any information. The Media Group was suspended following their reports on the political situation in Niger after the coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.
CIVICUS : Libérer immédiatement la journaliste nigérienne Samira Sabou
JOHANNESBURG - L'alliance mondiale de la société civile CIVICUS demande la libération immédiate de la journaliste et défenseure des droits humains Samira Sabou, qui a été détenue illégalement par des hommes non identifiés à son domicile le 30 septembre. Les autorités nigérianes n'ont pas reconnu son arrestation, le lieu où se trouve Samou reste inconnu et sa famille est sans nouvelles d'elle.

"Nous sommes extrêmement inquiets pour la sécurité de Samira Sabou et nous demandons sa libération immédiate", a déclaré David Kode, responsable du plaidoyer et des campagnes à CIVICUS."L'absence d'inculpation ou même d'informations minimales sur sa localisation fait craindre le pire des scénarios possibles. Les autorités nigériennes doivent veiller à sa sécurité et à son bien-être, nommer les personnes à l'origine de l'arrestation et les obliger à rendre compte de leurs actes.”

Sabou est une journaliste et blogueuse qui couvre régulièrement les droits humains au Niger et la situation sécuritaire dans la région du Sahel. Elle est présidente de l'Association des Blogueurs pour une Citoyenneté Active.

"L'arrestation de Sabou par des hommes non identifiés et le refus des autorités de reconnaître sa détention ou de divulguer l'endroit où elle se trouve pendant des jours est un fait inquiétant dans le Niger de l'après-coup d'État", a déclaré M. Kode. "Cela crée un précédent dangereux pour le traitement des journalistes par les nouveaux dirigeants militaires du Niger.”

Mme Sabou a fait l'objet de menaces et d'intimidations pour ses commentaires sur les réseaux sociaux avant et après le coup d'État militaire de juillet au Niger. En juin 2020, les autorités l'ont détenue pendant plus d'un mois après qu'elle ait écrit sur la corruption présumée au sein du ministère nigérien de la Défense. Pendant cette période, CIVICUS a présenté son profil dans le cadre de sa campagne "Stand As My Witness". En août, après le coup d'État, un membre de l'armée l'a interrogée par téléphone au sujet d'une de ses publications sur les réseaux sociaux qui contenait un message du président destitué Mohamed Bazoum.

"Si le nouveau gouvernement militaire du Niger veut représenter une véritable rupture avec le passé, il doit garantir un environnement sûr et ouvert aux critiques et aux dissidents", a déclaré M. Kode. "En ne rendant pas compte de l'endroit où se trouve Sabou et de sa sécurité, ou même en ne répondant pas aux demandes de renseignements à son sujet, le gouvernement militaire envoie un message clair : sous son règne, le Niger n'est pas un endroit où les citoyens peuvent librement informer sur les questions qui touchent l'État".

Le CIVICUS Monitor, qui évalue les conditions de l'espace civique dans le monde entier, classe le Niger dans la catégorie des pays réprimés, un niveau au-dessus de son pire classement, celui des pays fermés.

Pour toute interview, veuillez contacter

CIVICUS est l'alliance mondiale des organisations de la société civile et des activistes qui se consacrent au renforcement de l'action citoyenne et de la société civile dans le monde entier. Une communauté mondiale de personnes informées, inspirées et engagées pour relever les défis auxquels l'humanité est confrontée. Nous avons été créés en 1993 et, depuis 2002, nous sommes fiers d'avoir notre siège à Johannesburg, en Afrique du Sud, avec d'autres centres à travers le monde. Nous sommes une alliance qui compte plus de 15 000 membres dans plus de 175 pays.
CIVICUS: Release Nigerien journalist Samira Sabou immediately
JOHANNESBURG – Global civil society alliance CIVICUS urges the immediate release of journalist and human rights defender Samira Sabou who unidentified men arrested unlawfully from her home on 30 September. Nigerien authorities have not acknowledged her arrest, Samou’s whereabouts remain unknown and her family has been in the dark.
Civil and political rights are backsliding in West Africa ahead of elections
There has been a rapid decline in civic freedoms and democratic norms in Francophone West Africa with ruling presidents evading term limits and muzzling their opposition and pro-democracy groups, CIVICUS said ahead of presidential elections in Guinea (18 October) and Côte d’Ivoire (31 October).

Over the next six months a series of elections will take place across Francophone West Africa. Voting kicks off in Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire later this month, followed by elections in Burkina Faso (November), Niger (December-January) and Benin (April). Togo already had a contested presidential election in February 2020.

In Togo, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire, violence and political tensions are being fuelled by presidents refusing to step down. In Benin, recent changes in eligibility requirements mean that members of the opposition may not be able to run for presidency, while Côte d’Ivoire, Niger and Burkina Faso are confronting or emerging from violent armed conflicts which are being used to justify repressive laws and policies. In addition, the restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and armed groups spilling over from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea are making the political situations more volatile.

In this tense political environment, the new report “Civic space backsliding ahead of elections in Francophone West Africa” examines the tools of repression being used to undermine opposition groups, human rights defenders, activists and journalists. with a focus on Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Niger and Togo.

It documents recent Internet disruptions, the arrest of hundreds of pro-democracy activists and journalists and the killing of dozens of peaceful protesters in demonstrations organised over the last three years. Governments are using restrictive laws, over-complicated registration processes, judicial harassment and excessive use of force to clampdown on civil society, particularly when dissent is expressed online or during protests.

“Instead of working with civil society groups to create an enabling environment for free and fair elections, authorities across Francophone West Africa have resorted to muzzling human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists. In the hope of stamping out all opposition, they have created a climate of fear which fuels political violence, erodes the rule of law and undermines regional stability,” said François Patuel, senior researcher on West Africa and author of the report.

In Guinea, where President Alpha Condé will run for a third term on 18 October 2020, over fifty people were killed since October 2019 in protests organised by the political opposition and pro-democracy group Front National de Défense de la Constitution (National Front for the Defence of the Constitution, FNDC). In March 2020, the constitutional referendum which opened the way to Alpha Condé running for a third term was marred with a social media shutdown and intercommunal clashes in the Guinea Forest region which left over 30 people dead. Dozens of FNDC supporters and journalists have been detained since the creation of the movement in April 2019.

In Côte d’Ivoire, at least 12 people were killed in protests and clashes between political supporters following President Alassane Ouattara’s decision to run for a third term for the presidential election scheduled on 31 October 2020. Public protests have been banned since August 2020. The authorities have adopted laws criminalising false news and used them to target journalists, bloggers and politicians expressing dissent, including members of parliament such as Alain Lobognon who remains in detention since December 2019. In gross contempt to regional institutions, Côte d’Ivoire has been ignoring orders from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to release pro-Soro supporters and allow Guillaume Soro and Laurent Gbagbo to stand for elections.

“Local human rights groups do not take up sensitive political cases for fear of reprisals. Even lawyers are scared.” --Woman human rights defender, Abidjan, 15 May 2020.

“On paper, the right to freedom of expression is supposed to be protected. But in practice, journalists are intimidated when they write on sensitive topics such as land rights, police brutality and corruption.” -- Interview with a human rights defender, Lomé, 14 May 2020.

With civic freedoms backsliding across West Africa Francophone, civil society organisations need support from regional and international partners to remain safe, to ensure their voice is heard in international and regional fora and to increase the pressure on national authorities for positive human rights change. ECOWAS and the African Union, in particular, must step-up their response to the authorities’ disregard for regional standards and instruments, including their efforts to undermine the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Interviews

To arrange interviews, please contact:
François Patuel, Consultant & Senior Researcher on West Africa for CIVICUS, , +221 77 693 78 46
Country recommendations on civic space for Universal Periodic Review
CIVICUS makes joint UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submissions on civil society space in Mozambique, Niger, Paraguay and Singapore

The United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States once every 4.5 years.

CIVICUS and its partners have submitted joint UN Universal Periodic Review submissions on four countries to the UN Human Rights Council in advance of the 38th UPR session (April-May 2021). The submissions examine the state of civil society in each country, including the promotion and protection of the rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly and expression and the environment for human rights defenders. We further provide an assessment of the States’ domestic implementation of civic space recommendations received during the second UPR cycle over 4-years ago and provide a number of targeted follow-up recommendations.

Mozambique- CIVICUS and JOINT – Liga das ONG em Moçambique examine and raise concerns on the deteriorating environment in which journalists and civil society activists operate. Physical attacks, intimidation, arbitrary arrests and threats have become increasingly common, especially for civil society activists and journalists working or reporting on sensitive issues such as the Cabo election monitoring, transparency and accountability, election monitoring, transparency and accountability and corruption.

Niger (French) - CIVICUS, the West African Human Rights Defenders Network and the Nigerien Network of Human Rights Defenders highlight the level of implementation of the recommendations of received by Niger during its previous review in 2016. Despite constitutional guarantees on freedom of peaceful assembly, expression and association, the Nigerien government has targeted human rights defenders and subjected them to arbitrary arrests and judicial persecution. Peaceful assemblies are repressed and bans are imposed on planned protests while journalists are detained for reporting on issues affecting the state. Restrictive legislation like the 2019 Cyber Crimes Law are used to prosecute representatives of civil society.

Paraguay (Spanish) - CIVICUS and Semillas para la Democracia address concerns regarding the growing hostility, stigmatisation and criminalisation faced by HRDs, and particularly by the members of peasant, Indigenous, trade union and student movements, as well as by journalists reporting on protests, organised crime, corruption and human rights abuses. Along with the restrictions on the freedom of expression that result from the use of criminal defamation statutes and economic pressures from both private and public actors, the submission further examines the multiple ways in which dissent is stifled in the streets, as protests are prevented through the application of legislation imposing undue time and place restrictions and authorisation requirements, protesters are criminalised under the Penal Code, and demonstrations are violently suppressed by the security forces.

CIVICUS y Semillas para la Democracia abordan sus preocupaciones relativas a las crecientes hostilidad, estigmatización y criminalización que enfrentan las personas defensoras de derechos humanos, y en particular las que integran los movimientos campesino, indígena, sindical y estudiantil, así como los periodistas que reportan acerca de protestas, crimen organizado, corrupción y violaciones de derechos humanos. Además de las restricciones de la libertad de expresión derivadas de la aplicación de estatutos de difamación penal y de presiones económicas de actores tanto privados como públicos, el documento examina las múltiples formas en que el disenso es ahogado en las calles, en la medida en que las protestas son impedidas mediante la aplicación de legislación que impone restricciones indebidas de tiempo y lugar y requisitos de autorización, los manifestantes son criminalizados bajo el Código Penal, y las manifestaciones son violentamente suprimidas por las fuerzas de seguridad.

Singapore - CIVICUS and The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) highlight ongoing use of restrictive laws, including defamation laws, to criminalise criticism of the authorities by HRDs and critics and the draconian restrictions on peaceful assembly. It also documents new laws that have been deployed to restrict media freedom and freedom of expression online and to harass the political opposition, journalists and civil society.

Civic space in Mozambique, Niger, Paraguay, and Singapore are rated as Obstructed by the CIVICUS Monitor.

See all of our UPR submissions here.
Niger : CIVICUS salue la libération de défenseurs des droits humains
L'alliance mondiale de la société civile CIVICUS salue la décision des autorités nigériennes de libérer trois défenseurs des droits humains après six mois de détention. Nous appelons maintenant les autorités nigériennes à abandonner toutes les charges retenues contre eux. Moudi Moussa, Halidou Mounkaila et Maïkoul Zodi figuraient parmi les membres de la société civile qui se sont réunis pacifiquement à Niamey, le 15 mars 2020, pour protester contre la corruption au sein du ministère de la défense.

Les trois défenseurs des droits humains figurent dans la campagne #StandAsMyWitness (Soyez mon témoin) de CIVICUS, lancée en juillet 2020 pour mettre en lumière la situation critique des défenseurs des droits humains persécutés et détenus dans le monde entier, et pour demander leur libération. Le Niger a été placé sur la liste de surveillance de CIVICUS en juin en raison de restrictions accrues de l'espace civique.

Le 29 septembre 2020, Maïkoul Zodi a été libéré sous caution par un juge d'instruction de la capitale du Niger, Niamey. Le lendemain, ses collègues Moudi Moussa et Halidou Mounkaila ont également été libérés sous caution. Les défenseurs des droits humains ont été libérés à la suite d'un plaidoyer coordonné par plusieurs organisations nationales et internationales de la société civile, dont CIVICUS.

"Nous nous réjouissons de la libération de Moudi Moussa, Halidou Mounkaila et Maïkoul Zodi mais nous réitérons notre appel aux autorités nigériennes pour qu'elles cessent de persécuter les défenseurs des droits humains et les journalistes. A l'approche des élections, les autorités nigériennes devraient créer un environnement favorable à la société civile et aux membres de l'opposition politique - ils devraient être autorisés à exprimer leurs opinions sans crainte de représailles", a déclaré David Kode, responsable du plaidoyer et des campagnes de CIVICUS.

Contexte

Depuis le début de l'année, les autorités nigériennes ont pris pour cible les défenseurs des droits humains et les journalistes et les ont soumis à des arrestations arbitraires et à des poursuites judiciaires. En mars 2020, plusieurs représentants de la société civile ont été arrêtés pour avoir participé à des manifestations contre la corruption au sein du ministère de la défense. Des journalistes ont été convoqués pour être interrogés sur des publications dans les médias et les autorités ont interdit toute manifestation au début de l'année.

Pour plus d'informations sur les violations de l'espace civique, visitez la page du Niger sur leCIVICUS Monitor.
Niger : Recommandations sur l'espace civique pour l'Examen Périodique Universel des Droits de l'Homme
CIVICUS présente des contributions conjointes à l'Examen Périodique Universel (EPU) des Nations Unies sur l'espace de la société civile au Niger

L'Examen Périodique Universel du Conseil des Droits de l'Homme des Nations unies est un processus unique qui consiste à examiner le bilan des 193 États membres des Nations unies en matière de droits de l'homme tous les quatre ans et demi.

CIVICUS, le Réseau ouest-africain des défenseurs des droits humains et le Réseau nigérien des défenseurs des droits humains mettent en évidence le niveau de mise en œuvre des recommandations reçues par le Niger lors de son précédent examen en 2016. Malgré les garanties constitutionnelles sur la liberté de réunion pacifique, d'expression et d'association, le gouvernement nigérien a pris pour cible les défenseurs des droits humains et les a soumis à des arrestations arbitraires et à des persécutions judiciaires. Les rassemblements pacifiques sont réprimés et les manifestations prévues sont interdites, tandis que des journalistes sont détenus pour avoir fait des reportages sur des questions touchant l'État. Des lois restrictives comme la loi de 2019 sur les cybercrimes sont utilisées pour poursuivre les représentants de la société civile.

Lire l'intégralité des recommandations
https://www.civicus.org/documents/NigerUPRSubmission.FR.2020.pdf
NIGER: ‘France and the USA have displayed imperial attitudes towards poor countries in Africa’
CIVICUS speaks about Niger’s recent decision to suspend military cooperation with the USA with Dr Boubacar N’Diaye, Emeritus Professor of Pan-African Studies and Political Science at the College of Wooster, international consultant on security sector governance and former chair of the African Security Sector Network, a pan-African think tank focused on security governance issues in the continent, and particularly in West Africa.

How would you describe Niger’s security situation?

Niger is located in a very strategic position in the continent – it’s at the heart of West Africa and the Sahel, and shares borders with Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali and Nigeria. This makes it an ideal location for geopolitical powers to have a presence.

Until recently, Niger was a key security partner of France and the USA. There were French troops in the country, and in 2012, the government signed an agreement with the USA to establish a drone base to conduct surveillance and military operations against terrorism. Between 1,000 to 1,500 US soldiers were deployed under this agreement.

But despite promises to assist Niger in fighting terrorism, little was done in this regard. Instead, the USA utilised this alliance to carry out surveillance operations in the region in support of its global geopolitical strategy.

On 26 July 2023, Niger experienced a military coup against President Mohamed Bazoum, with the junta claiming the president’s response to the dire security situation was inadequate. The country has confronted terrorist attacks on military and civilians for quite some time. Yet the crisis extends beyond security to encompass political and social dimensions.

Following the coup, the junta demanded France and its soldiers leave the country. France and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Niger, resulting in power cuts and border closures. No goods or medical supplies were allowed in or out across ECOWAS borders, while terrorist attacks persisted, claiming the lives of Nigerien military personnel. Sanctions were subsequently lifted, but the crisis persisted.

Why did Niger suspend military cooperation with the USA?

While France maintained a firm stance against military coups in the region, the USA took a more conciliatory approach. For that, one would have expected General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the junta’s leader, to be more accommodating with the USA.

While the military leaders were quite grateful for this, they were also irked by the arrival of a US delegation of high-ranking State Department officials who, with a typical imperial attitude, lectured them on democracy and demanded they cut all links with the Russian government. They also accused them of having secret deals with Iran to sell uranium.

The fact that the USA belittled and showed no respect to Niger led the military junta to revoke the 2012 agreement, which it highlighted was a secret document not endorsed by the public that granted the USA carte blanche to operate in Niger as they pleased.

In requesting the USA lo leave the country, Niger asserted its rights as a free and sovereign nation. As such, Niger is free to make deals with whichever country it chooses, with neither the USA nor France having the authority to dictate any decision.

This decision significantly affects the USA’s geostrategic position, as Niger is the only country in West Africa where it has a military presence. If compelled to withdraw entirely, the USA would lose its surveillance capabilities and ability to project power. If the USA wants to stay and seek a new agreement with the junta, it will need to tone down its demands. But if it keeps pressing Niger to cut ties with Russia, it is unlikely to be able to reach a deal.

Do you see Niger’s decision as part of a broader regional trend?

Over the past few years, people in other countries in the region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal, have shown a desire to reaffirm sovereignty and reject the influence of imperial powers.

France, as the former colonial power and on behalf of the European Union (EU) and the west, has particularly had a lot of influence in the region. It has conducted military operations, done business and even imposed the CFA franc, the regional currency and a relic of French colonialism in Africa.

France, and to a lesser extent the USA, have displayed imperial attitudes towards poor countries in Africa. They have completely disregarded their national sovereignty and ignored their need for dignity. They aim to dictate to their people the type of government they should have, the decisions they should make and who they should partner with. This imperial mentality must stop.

The public, guided by a very active civil society, is happy to see France and the USA being told to leave. They are happy to see Niger behave as a sovereign country that rejects foreign influence, particularly when both countries have done little to nothing to help resolve the insecurity dilemma Niger has faced for a decade.

How do you understand the growing power of Russia in this context?

Russia, and to a lesser extent China, are the default partners in the region. Despite their substantial presence and technological capabilities, France, the USA and even the United Nations have not achieved the same level of success as Russia in nations such as the Central African Republic (CAR) or Mali. Russia has been able to stabilise the security situation in the CAR, at least to some extent, and recapture major strategic cities in Mali that have been under rebel control for the last 10 years.

Countries in the region see an alternative in Russia. This is not rooted in a Cold War mentality but rather in Russia’s longstanding presence in the region, its support for many nations during the early years of independence and its demonstrated effectiveness in combating terrorism.

What international support does Niger’s civil society need?

Nigerien civil society needs the solidarity of civil society across the world. Civil society organisations have suffered a lot. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world and has faced months of a severe embargo, sanctions, electricity cuts and medicine shortages. While these measures have been lifted, so has financial assistance from the EU and France, which has exacerbated socioeconomic hardships and security issues.

The country hasn’t collapsed – as some had hoped – but is undergoing serious socioeconomic hardship and security challenges. The military coup is not to be applauded – it’s a clear sign of political failure. But considering the context, it can be understood. People have accepted that the military are in charge, and now they need all the help and solidarity they can receive.

The international community should adopt a more empathetic stance towards Niger, supporting the country and its authorities. They should avoid punitive measures such as sanctions, which only harm the public, and refrain from imposing decisions and norms upon the nation.

Instead, the international community should find a formula to help Nigerien authorities navigate through this complicated context and transition back to a constitutional order, with the active involvement of local civil society.

Civic space in Niger is rated ‘repressed’ by theCIVICUS Monitor.

Get in touch with the African Security Sector Network through itswebsite orFacebook andLinkedIn pages, and follow@ASSN_Africa on Twitter.

The opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of CIVICUS.
Niger: CIVICUS welcomes release of human rights defenders
Global civil society alliance CIVICUS welcomes the decision by Nigerien authorities to release three human rights defenders after six months in detention. We now call on the Nigerien authorities to drop all charges against them. Moudi Moussa, Halidou Mounkaila and Maïkoul Zodi were among civil society members who gathered peacefully in Niamey, on 15 March 2020, to protest about corruption in the Ministry of Defence.
Niger: This 25 May marks two months in detention of 26 activists and civil society members
#Niger: This 25 May marks two months in detention of 26 activists and civil society members https://t.co/Y3wM0zG2yv #AfricaDay pic.twitter.com/ealcDXTZtF
— CIVICUS (@CIVICUSalliance) May 25, 2018
- 10 organisations call on authorities to stop their prosecutions and release them in order to ease the current tense situation
Two months after 26 civil society activists were arrested in peaceful demonstrations against a new finance law in the capital, Niamey, Oxfam and Amnesty International are joining with eight NGOs to call on the authorities of Niger to ease the situation by releasing the detainees and bring an end to the prosecutions.
Niger's Adoption of Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights
Niger must take opportunity to consolidate its democracy and lift restrictions on civic space

Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights -- Outcome Adoption for Niger

Delivered by David Kode

Thank you, Mr President.

We welcome Niger’s participation in the UPR process and Niger’s acceptance of all recommendations related to civic space. We are however concerned about civic space restrictions and the fact that the Niger did not implement the majority of the recommendations it received during the previous cycle.

As detailed in our submission, we are concerned about the targeting of human rights defenders, journalists and bloggers who have raised concerns over corruption in certain government departments. We are also concerned about restrictions to peaceful assemblies and the fact that the authorities are limiting protests to certain days of the week. In 2020, three protesters were killed during protests in Niamey in 2020 and in March of the same year, 15 human rights defenders were arrested for protesting against corruption in the Department of Defence.

Since the adoption of the Press Law in 2010 which eliminates prison terms for media offences, journalists continue to be targeted while covering protests or for raising concerns online over the actions of governments.

The election of President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger’s first ever democratic transition presents an opportunity for Niger to consolidate its democracy, lift restrictions on civic space and implement all recommendations accepted during Niger’s UPR. We urge Niger to do so and for other member states to support it in upholding its human rights commitments.

We thank you.

Civic space in Niger is rated as Repressed by the CIVICUS Monitor
Un nouveau rapport montre que les libertés civiles et politiques sont en recul en Afrique de l’Ouest à l’approche des élections présidentielles.
Les libertés civiles et les normes démocratiques enregistrent un net recul en Afrique de l’Ouest francophone avec des présidents au pouvoir contournant les limites de mandat et muselant les militants pro-démocratie et les opposants, a déclaré CIVICUS, à l’approche les élections présidentielles en Guinée (18 octobre) et en Côte d’Ivoire (31 octobre).

Au cours des six prochains mois, une série d’élections se tiendra dans plusieurs pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest francophone. Les élections débuteront en Guinée et en Côte d’Ivoire en octobre, puis au Burkina Faso (novembre), au Niger (décembre-janvier) et au Bénin (avril). Le Togo a déjà organisé une élection présidentielle contestée en février 2020.

Au Togo, en Guinée et en Côte d’Ivoire, la violence et les tensions politiques sont alimentées par le refus des présidents de ne pas se retirer à la fin de leur mandat. Au Bénin, des changements récents dans les conditions d’éligibilité signifient que les membres de l’opposition pourraient ne pas être en mesure de se présenter à la prochaine présidentielle, tandis que la Côte d’Ivoire, le Niger et le Burkina Faso sont actuellement confrontés ou sont en train de sortir de conflits armés violents qui sont utilisés pour justifier des lois et politiques répressives. En outre, les restrictions introduites en réponse à la pandémie COVID-19 ainsi que l'avancée de groupes armés du Sahel vers le golfe de Guinée rendent la situation plus instable.

Dans ce climat politique tendu, le nouveau rapport «L’espace civique en recul à l’approche des élections en Afrique de l’Ouest francophone» examine les outils de répression utilisés pour affaiblir les groupes d’opposition, saper le travail des défenseurs des droits humains, des militants et des journalistes, avec un accent sur le Bénin, la Côte d’Ivoire, la Guinée, le Niger et le Togo.

Ce rapport documente les récentes perturbations d’Internet, l’arrestation de centaines de journalistes et d’activistes pro-démocratie ainsi que les homicides de dizaines de manifestants pacifiques lors des manifestations organisées au cours des trois dernières années. Les gouvernements utilisent des lois restrictives, des processus d’enregistrement trop complexes, le harcèlement judiciaire et un recours excessif à la force pour réprimer la société civile, en particulier lorsque la divergence d’opinion est exprimée en ligne ou lors de manifestations.

«Plutôt que de travailler avec la société civile pour créer un environnement propice à des élections libres et équitables en Afrique de l'Ouest, les autorités répriment les défenseurs des droits humains et les militants pro-démocratie. Dans l’espoir d’éradiquer toute opposition, elles ont créé un climat de peur qui alimente la violence politique, érode l’état de droit et mine la stabilité régionale », a déclaré François Patuel, chercheur principal sur l’Afrique de l’Ouest et auteur du rapport.

En Guinée, où le président Alpha Condé se présentera pour un troisième mandat le 18 octobre 2020, plus de cinquante personnes ont été tuées depuis octobre 2019 lors de manifestations organisées par l’opposition politique et le groupe pro-démocratie Front National de Défense de la Constitution (FNDC). En mars 2020, le référendum constitutionnel qui a ouvert la voie à la candidature d’Alpha Condé pour un troisième mandat a été marqué par la fermeture des réseaux sociaux ainsi que par des affrontements intercommunautaires en Guinée forestière qui ont fait plus de 30 morts. Des dizaines de sympathisants du FNDC et de journalistes ont été arrêtés depuis la création du mouvement en avril 2019.

En Côte d’Ivoire, au moins 12 personnes ont été tuées lors de manifestations et d’affrontements entre militants politiques à la suite de la décision du président Alassane Ouattara de se présenter pour un troisième mandat à l’élection présidentielle prévue le 31 octobre 2020. Les manifestations publiques sont interdites depuis août 2020. Les autorités ont adopté des lois criminalisant les fausses nouvelles et les ont utilisées pour cibler des journalistes, des blogueurs et des politiciens exprimant leur divergence d’opinion, y compris des parlementaires comme Alain Lobognon qui est en détention depuis décembre 2019. Au mépris des institutions régionales, la Côte d’Ivoire a ignoré les ordonnances de la Cour Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples exigeant la libération des sympatisants de Guillaume Soro et demandant aux autorités de permettre à Guillaume Soro et Laurent Gbagbo de se présenter à la présidentielle.

«Les groupes locaux de défense des droits humains ne prennent pas en charge les affaires politiques sensibles par peur de représailles. Même les avocats ont peur. » –Une femme défenseure des droits humains, Abidjan, 15 mai 2020.

«Sur le papier, le droit à la liberté d’expression est censé être protégé. Mais dans la pratique, les journalistes sont intimidés lorsqu’ils écrivent sur des sujets sensibles tels que les droits fonciers, la brutalité policière et la corruption. » - Entretien avec un défenseur des droits humains, Lomé, 14 mai 2020.

Avec le recul des libertés civiques dans toute l’Afrique de l’Ouest francophone, les organisations de la société civile ont besoin du soutien des partenaires régionaux et internationaux pour rester en sécurité, pour s’assurer que leur voix est entendue dans les forums internationaux et régionaux et pour augmenter la pression sur les autorités nationales pour un changement positif en matière de droits humains. La CEDEAO et l’Union africaine, en particulier, doivent affermir leur réponse face au mépris des autorités pour les normes et instruments régionaux, y compris les efforts de ces dernières visant à affaiblir la Cour Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples.

ENTREVUES
Pour organiser des entretiens, veuillez contacter:
François Patuel, consultant et chercheur senior sur l’Afrique de l’Ouest pour CIVICUS, , +221 77693 78 46
UN resolution needed to help protect freedom of expression
Statement at the 44th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression

Madame President, Special Rapporteur;

We thank the Special Rapporteur for his timely report.

The CIVICUS Monitor watchlist highlights countries where there is a serious and rapid decline in respect for civic space, including where undue restrictions on freedom of expression – whether pre-existing, or introduced in response to the pandemic – consolidate authoritarian power and further human rights violations.

Currently, this includes the Philippines, where a provision in the emergency law introduced in response to the pandemic penalises the spreading of "false information," which could curtail freedom of speech and silence the media. Journalists and social media users have already been targeted. We also stand with prominent journalist Maria Ressa, who was convicted for ‘cyberlibel’ last month in a politically motivated case.

It also includes Hungary, where an act was passed in March criminalising spreading false information in connection with the pandemic. This could lead to further censorship of independent media in Hungary and the erosion of media freedom. Access to information for journalists has already diminished.

In Niger, authorities have used the 2019 Cybercrime Law against critics, including over social media posts and even private WhatsApp messages. Journalist and blogger Samira Sabou was arrested in June over a Facebook post. The National Assembly approved a law allowing for the interception of communication in May 2020.

In Azerbaijan, at least six activists and a pro-opposition journalist have been sentenced to prison after criticism of the government.

Finally, in the USA, journalists covering Black Lives Matter protests have been physically attacked, detained and had equipment seized by law enforcement. These are not isolated cases but reflect mounting hostility against the press in the country, with several cases of vilification, harassment and smear campaigns against journalists from both state and non-state actors.

We remind States that free flow of information will be paramount in our collective recovery from the pandemic. We call on the Council to support the resolution protecting freedom of expression currently before it, and to commit to ensuring protection for journalists, and for those who speak out.

Current council members:

Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Eritrea, Fiji, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Libya, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Slovakia, Somalia, Sudan, Spain, Togo, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela

Civic space ratings from the CIVICUS Monitor

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Widespread arrests, attacks and legal restrictions facing LGBTQI+ activists across Africa finds new report
Widespread arrests, attacks and legal restrictions facing LGBTQI+ activists across Africa finds new report

Johannesburg | 4 July, 2023
- Same-sex relations criminalised in at least 27 countries south of the Sahara
- Organisations shut down and offices raided for their work on LGBTQI+ rights
- Widespread bans on the publication of information on gay rights
- Anti-LGBTQI+ laws and practices disproportionately impact other excluded groups including women, children and victims of abuse
From Uganda to Cameroon, LGBTQI+ activists face significant restrictions due to the prevailing social, cultural and legal attitudes towards homosexuality and gender identity. A new report by CIVICUS, Challenging Barriers: Investigating Civic Space Limitations on LGBTQI+ Rights in Africa, looks at some common challenges faced by activists and civil society groups in countries south of the Sahara.

Many African countries have laws that criminalise same sex activity. The laws, often remnants of colonial era legislation, can be used to target and prosecute LGBTQI+ individuals, including activists. Penalties range from fines, imprisonment to even the death penalty in some countries.

Limited legal protection in many African countries offers little or no protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This lack of protection makes it difficult for activists and civil society groups to advocate for equal rights or seek justice when they face human rights abuses. The offices and activities of civil society organisations advocating for LGBTQI+ rights have been either raided or shutdown in Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Cameroon.

Attacks against people who identify as LGBTQI+ are common in countries such as Benin, Cameroon and Kenya. In Cameroon since 2022 there have been over 30 recorded cases of violence and abuse against LGBTQI+ people, while in Kenya sexual minority groups face escalating homophobic attacks. In January 2023, following a series of killings in 2022, unknown assailants murdered and dumped the body of LGBTQI+ activist Edwin Chiloba. Chiloba’s death, which many linked to his sexual orientation sparked public outrage, with civil society groups and members of the public denouncing the murder and calling on the authorities to bring those involved to justice.

“With the escalating hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community in Africa, this report sheds light on the grave reality faced by many, and compels us to challenge prejudice, and advocate for equality - especially for the most marginalised. Governments must ensure equal protection for all people in accordance with their obligations on non-discrimination under international human rights law. We implore governments to take robust measures to safeguard the rights and well-being of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Sylvia Mbataru, CIVICUS’ Civic Space Researcher for Eastern & Southern Africa.

Censorship and restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly have contributed to a deteriorating environment for activists. In several countries, the publication and dissemination of material on LGBTQI+ issues face strict editorial controls and bans. CIVICUS also documents how protests are being suppressed, including the use of various laws to deny permits for public demonstrations, specifically targeting LGBTQI gatherings.

Despite the hostile environment in many countries, civil society groups continue to advocate for LGBTQI+ rights and score important victories. The report also documents a number of positive developments including the decriminalization of same sex relations in Botswana and Gabon, as well as a recent Supreme Court decision in Namibia to recognise same-sex marriages concluded abroad between citizens and foreign spouses.

The report concludes by demonstrating the impact of civic space restrictions against LGBTQI+ groups, and shows how the ramifications of these restrictions also affect other excluded groups including women and children.

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Widespread arrests, attacks and legal restrictions facing LGBTQI+ activists across Africa finds new report

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