Niger suspends nine French media outlets over alleged threats to public order

By&nbspSerge Duchêne&nbspwith&nbspAFP

Published on 09/05/2026 - 18:30 GMT+2

Niger, ruled by a junta hostile to Western countries, connected Friday suspended 9 French media outlets that could "seriously endanger nationalist order".

A connection broadcast connected authorities tv said the suspended media had repeatedly broadcast contented "likely to earnestly endanger nationalist order, nationalist unity, societal cohesion and the stableness of institutions" successful Niger.

They are France 24, Radio France Internationale, France Afrique Média, LSI Africa, AFP (Agence France-Presse), TV5 Monde, TF1 Info, Jeune Afrique and Mediapart.

The suspension is "immediate" and applies to "satellite packages, cablegram networks, integer platforms, websites and mobile applications".

RFI and France 24 had already been suspended a fewer days aft the coup d'état successful July 2023 that brought the junta to power.

In December 2024, the British BBC was suspended.

Bans successful Burkina Faso and Mali

On Tuesday, Burkina Faso, an state of Niger and Mali wrong the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), each ruled by subject juntas, banned the broadcasting of the TV5 Monde channel.

The junta accuses the French tv transmission of "disinformation" and "apology for terrorism" successful its sum of jihadist unit successful this West African state and successful Mali. Reporters Without Borders condemned "a prohibition based connected opaque elements".

Mali, shaken by unprecedented jihadist and rebel attacks, has besides banned French media.

Niger's determination comes conscionable days earlier an important acme betwixt France and African countries successful Kenya. None of the 3 junta-ruled countries is taking part.

Anti-French sentiment is moving precocious successful immoderate of Africa's erstwhile colonies, astatine a clip erstwhile the continent is erstwhile again becoming a diplomatic battleground, marked by the increasing power of Russia and China.

Press state successful escaped fall

Several Western media outlets person already been suspended since the caller authorities came to powerfulness successful Niger successful a coup d'état successful July 2023. Since then, this immense Sahelian state has begun a divorcement with France, the erstwhile assemblage power, notably by obtaining the departure of its army engaged successful the combat against the jihadists.

The authorities successful Niamey has turned to different partners, including Russia, and regularly denounces "imperialism", asserting its "sovereignty".

Nigerien journalists moving for overseas oregon section media are besides targeted by the junta.

This week, 2 Nigerien journalists, Gazali Abdou, analogous for the German vigor presumption Deutsche Welle, and Hassane Zada, editor-in-chief of a determination newspaper, were released aft having been imprisoned for respective months.

In 2025, 13 journalists were arrested successful Niger, according to the UN, which had called for their release.

According to the section media, six journalists are inactive being held successful Niger, notably connected charges of undermining nationalist defence and plotting against the state.

In 2026, Niger fell 37 places successful the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) satellite property state index, to 120th retired of 180 countries.

RSF and Amnesty International person repeatedly expressed their heavy interest astir property state violations successful Niger.

In 2024, Niger enacted a instrumentality criminalising the online dissemination of "information apt to disturb nationalist order".

The state besides suspended astir 3,000 section and overseas NGOs successful 2025, accusing them of a deficiency of transparency and of supporting "terrorists" oregon equipped groups.