In a significant development concerning press freedom in Niger, two journalists, Youssouf Seriba and Oumarou Kane, have been released from detention after several months, according to family and judicial sources. Seriba, the editor-in-chief of Les Echos du Niger, and Kane, editor of Le Herisson, had been held since November 2025 on charges of aiding the distribution of a document that could potentially disturb public order.
The case stemmed from a leaked invitation to a press briefing organized by the Solidarity Front, a body established by Niger’s military government to solicit public donations.
The invitation, which ended up on social media, was used by supporters of former president Mohamed Bazoum to criticize the ruling junta. While the release of Seriba and Kane is being welcomed by the international journalism community, a third journalist, arrested over the same leak, remains in custody. This situation comes against the backdrop of increasing concerns over press freedom in Niger, which has been under military rule since a coup in 2023.
The United Nations reported that 13 journalists were arrested in Niger in 2025, with three being released in May.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for the immediate release of all journalists held in Niger and for the government to ensure the safety of journalists and allow for a free press.
As Niger continues to grapple with political instability and military rule, the release of Seriba and Kane, while a positive step, also underscores the ongoing risks and threats to press freedom in the region.
The international community is expected to closely monitor the situation and advocate for the release of all journalists held in Niger.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
—
This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: Rédaction Africanews
