Moussa Tchangari Detention: Demand Release
- A coalition of international organizations,including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch,is urging Niger authorities to release civil society activist Moussa Tchangari.
- 3, 2024, and later charged with offenses including "criminal conspiracy in connection with a terrorist enterprise" and "plotting against the authority of the state." A conviction on the...
- The groups assert that the charges against Tchangari are unfounded and stem from his exercise of free expression.
Demand the immediate release of Nigerien activist Moussa Tchangari, arrested December 3, 2024, and facing terrorism-related charges, including plotting against the state. International human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, condemn these charges as a blatant attempt to silence dissent and stifle free expression. Tchangari, a known critic of government policies, was arrested following his public disapproval of certain decisions. Rights groups decry the misuse of these charges and are actively campaigning for his freedom, highlighting a concerning trend of repression by Niger authorities. News Directory 3 is closely following this case. What are the potential implications of this arrest and the ongoing legal battle? Discover what’s next.
Rights Groups Demand Release of Niger Activist Moussa Tchangari
Updated June 4,2025
A coalition of international organizations,including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch,is urging Niger authorities to release civil society activist Moussa Tchangari. The groups are protesting what they say is the misuse of terrorism-related charges to suppress dissent.
Tchangari was arrested Dec. 3, 2024, and later charged with offenses including “criminal conspiracy in connection with a terrorist enterprise” and “plotting against the authority of the state.” A conviction on the latter charge could carry the death penalty.
The groups assert that the charges against Tchangari are unfounded and stem from his exercise of free expression. Prior to his arrest,Tchangari had publicly criticized the government’s decision to revoke licenses of humanitarian organizations and the creation of a terrorism database.
Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty international’s Interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said, “Moussa Tchangari is being detained solely for the exercise of his human rights. We urge the authorities to immediately release him and drop all charges. We are deeply concerned about the use of charges like these to silence critics of the government.”
Drissa Traoré, Secretary general of FIDH, stated that Tchangari’s arrest “is part of a wider trend of repression by the Nigerien authorities, who target and subject to constant judicial harassment all those who publicly criticize them, with the aim of silencing them.”
According to Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch, the arrest “sends a chilling message to anyone who may dare to criticize Niger’s regime slide towards autocracy.”
Isidore ngueuleu, Head of the Africa Regional Desk at OMCT, called Tchangari’s arrest “a grave mistake and counterproductive,” emphasizing his long history of advocating for democracy and independence in Niger.
Tchangari, 55, is the Secretary general of Citizens option Spaces (Alternatives Espaces Citoyens – AEC). Following his arrest at his home in Niamey, he was held incommunicado for two days before being located at the Central Service for Combating Terrorism and Organized Transnational Crime.
Nigerien courts have rejected attempts by Tchangari’s lawyers to have the case dismissed. The lawyers have appealed these rulings.
What’s next
Amnesty International and other organizations continue to campaign for Tchangari’s release, raising awareness about his case and urging Niger authorities to respect freedom of expression.