Le Niger suspend une dizaine de médias français pouvant selon lui mettre "en péril l'ordre public"
Niger's military regime, hostile to Western countries and especially France, announced on Friday that it was suspending about ten French media outlets that it said could "seriously endanger public order", just days before an important summit between Paris and African countries.
Several Western media outlets have already been suspended since a junta came to power in Niger in July 2023, through a coup.
This vast Sahelian country began a divorce from France, the former colonial power, immediately after the coup, notably by obtaining the departure of its army engaged in the anti-jihadist fight.
The regime has turned to other partners, including Russia, and regularly denounces "imperialism", asserting its "sovereignty".
"The following media outlets are suspended throughout the national territory for recurrent broadcasting of content likely to seriously jeopardize public order, national unity, social cohesion and the stability of the institutions of the Republic: France 24, RFI (Radio France Internationale, editor's note), France Afrique Media, LSI Africa, AFP (Agence France-Presse, editor's note), TV5 Monde, TF1 Info, Jeune Afrique and Mediapart," according to a statement from the National Communication Observatory (ONC) read on public television.
The organization adds in the text that the execution of this decision is "immediate," without detailing the reasons for this measure.
"The suspension concerns satellite bouquets, cable networks, digital platforms, websites, mobile applications," she specifies.
RFI and France 24 had already been suspended a few days after the coup. The British broadcaster BBC had also been suspended in December 2024.
On Tuesday, Burkina Faso, an ally of neighboring Niger and Mali within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) confederation, banned the broadcast of the TV5 Monde channel, after also suspending several Western media outlets.
The Bamako junta, currently weakened after a series of unprecedented attacks by jihadists and Tuareg rebels, had also suspended the broadcasting of French media.
Niger's decision comes a few days before an important summit between France and African countries in Nairobi, Kenya, called Africa Forward.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso will not participate.
- 13 arrests -
Nigerien journalists, working for foreign or local media, are also targeted by the junta.
This week, two Nigerien journalists, German radio correspondent Gazali Abdou and the editor of a regional newspaper, Hassane Zada, were released after being imprisoned for several months.
In 2025, 13 journalists were arrested in the country according to the UN, which had called for their release.
According to local press organizations, six journalists are still being held in Niger, notably for "undermining national defense" and "conspiracy against the authority of the State".
In 2026, Niger plummeted 37 places in Reporters Without Borders' (RSF) press freedom ranking, ranking 120th out of 180 countries.
This NGO, along with Amnesty International, has repeatedly expressed concern about a "decline" in press freedom in the country.
Niger also strengthened a law in 2024 that criminalizes the digital dissemination of "data likely to disturb public order".
In addition, the country suspended nearly 3,000 local and foreign NGOs in 2025, accused of lacking transparency and supporting "terrorists," armed groups that are undermining several parts of the country.
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