Amnesty International demands urgent action on journalist Samira Sabou’s disappearance in Niger

Amnesty International has voiced profound alarm regarding the enforced disappearance of Samira Sabou, a prominent Nigerien journalist and blogger. She was abducted from her residence on September 30 by masked individuals who identified themselves as members of the security services. Ousmane Diallo, a Sahel researcher within Amnesty International’s regional office for West and Central Africa, commented on this distressing event:

“We are deeply concerned by Samira Sabou’s enforced disappearance. We unequivocally call upon the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) to immediately disclose her whereabouts and ensure her swift, unconditional release. If authorities genuinely lack knowledge of her detention location, they must launch an urgent investigation to ascertain it. Each day that passes represents a further violation of Samira Sabou’s right to liberty and a fair trial, placing her at risk of torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.”

Ousmane Diallo, Sahel researcher at Amnesty International’s regional office for West and Central Africa

Samira Sabou is a fiercely committed activist, dedicated to advocating for human rights and exposing corruption. It is highly probable that her enforced disappearance is directly linked to her vigorous activism and her recent public criticisms of arbitrary arrests carried out by the CNSP.

“Niger is a signatory to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. We implore the CNSP to uphold its human rights obligations under both national and international law, which include the prohibition of enforced disappearances and the robust protection of rights to freedom of expression and press freedom. We further demand that they respect and safeguard human rights defenders, whose rights are explicitly guaranteed by Articles 4, 6, and 7 of the June 2022 law concerning the rights and duties of human rights defenders, as well as by international legal frameworks.”

Additional details on Samira Sabou’s case

Samira Sabou, a journalist, activist, and the president of Niger’s bloggers’ association, was apprehended on September 30, 2023. This occurred at her mother’s home in Niamey, where several masked men, presenting themselves as security forces, took her into custody. These individuals displayed professional identification cards before compelling Samira to enter a vehicle. She was then blindfolded and transported to an undisclosed location, currently unknown to both her family and her legal counsel. Neither her family nor her lawyer has been able to establish contact with her since her arrest, nor have they received any information regarding her whereabouts. Furthermore, the criminal investigation department of the Niamey police claims to have no knowledge of the incident.

This incident is not isolated, as other individuals have recently faced violations for merely exercising their right to freedom of expression.

Just days later, on October 3, social media user Samira Ibrahim, also known as “Precious Mimi,” received a six-month suspended prison sentence and a 300,000 CFA franc (approximately $479 USD) fine. Her conviction was for “producing data likely to disturb public order,” stemming from a Facebook post that discussed Algeria’s refusal to acknowledge Niger’s new government.