A prominent Nigerien activist, Moussa Tchangari, has been imprisoned following a month of detention, his NGO confirmed Friday.
Tchangari, a vocal critic of the junta and supporter of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, was arrested at his Niamey home on December 3.
The arrest followed his return from an international trip, with witnesses reporting four plainclothes men seizing him, said local sources.
Tchangari has been an outspoken opponent of the July 2023 coup led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, describing it as a “setback.”
The coup resulted in the imprisonment of democratically elected Bazoum and his wife, Hadiza, at the presidential palace in Niamey.
A Niamey court officially ordered Tchangari’s incarceration at Filingue prison, known for housing political dissidents.
The 55-year-old activist faces charges of “glorifying terrorism,” “undermining national security,” and “criminal conspiracy linked to terrorism.”
Tchangari’s arrest has drawn condemnation from rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, demanding his immediate release.
These organizations have criticized a broader crackdown on political dissent and media freedom since the junta took power in 2023.
Tchangari, a longstanding civil society leader, was previously arrested in 2015 for comments on Niger’s humanitarian crisis in the insurgency-hit southeast.
His latest detention raises concerns about escalating repression under Niger’s military-led government, observers warn.
The case underscores growing tensions in Niger as calls for democracy and human rights face mounting resistance.