Niger suspends multiple foreign media outlets ahead of africa forward summit

Niger’s military leadership has taken a decisive step by suspending nearly a dozen foreign media outlets, citing their content as a potential threat to public order ahead of a major Franco-African summit. The announcement came on May 8, just days before the Africa Forward event in Nairobi.

The Nigerien National Communications Observatory (ONC) released a statement declaring the immediate suspension of the following outlets: France 24, RFI (Radio France Internationale), France Afrique Media, LSI Africa, AFP (Agence France-Presse), TV5 Monde, TF1 Info, Jeune Afrique, and Mediapart. The decision covers all broadcast methods—satellite bouquets, cable networks, digital platforms, websites, and mobile applications—across the country.

The ONC did not provide specific reasons for the suspension but emphasized that affected media must cease operations immediately. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) swiftly condemned the move, calling for the “immediate reversal of this abusive decision”.

a growing pattern of media restrictions in Niger

This isn’t the first time Western media have faced restrictions in Niger. Since the July 2023 coup that brought the junta to power, several outlets have been targeted. RFI and France 24 were suspended shortly after the takeover, while the BBC was blocked in December 2024. The junta has since distanced itself from France, its former colonial ruler, demanding the withdrawal of French troops involved in counterterrorism efforts. Niger has pivoted toward new alliances, including with Russia, and frequently criticizes what it describes as “imperialism,” while asserting its sovereignty.

regional context: media crackdowns across the Sahel

Niger’s announcement follows similar actions by neighboring Burkina Faso, an ally within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Earlier this month, Ouagadougou banned TV5 Monde and suspended multiple Western media outlets. Meanwhile, Mali’s junta, facing severe security challenges from jihadist and Tuareg rebel attacks, has also restricted French media broadcasts.

The timing of Niger’s decision is particularly notable, coming just before the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, which the country—alongside Mali and Burkina Faso—has chosen to boycott.

press freedom under siege

Local journalists are also feeling the pressure. Two Nigerien reporters—Gazali Abdou, a correspondent for Germany’s Deutsche Welle, and Hassane Zada, editor of a regional publication—were recently released after months in detention. According to the UN, 13 journalists were arrested in Niger in 2025 alone, with six still imprisoned for charges like “undermining national defense” and “conspiracy against state authority.”

The country’s press freedom rankings reflect this erosion. In 2026, Niger dropped 37 places in Reporters Without Borders (RSF)’s Press Freedom Index, landing at 120th out of 180 countries. The organization, along with Amnesty International, has repeatedly warned of a “backslide” in media freedom within the nation.

Niger has also tightened controls on digital content. A 2024 law now criminalizes the spread of information deemed likely to “disrupt public order,” while authorities have suspended over 3,000 local and international NGOs in 2025, accusing them of “lacking transparency” and allegedly supporting “terrorist” groups active in the region.