Niger Reinstates Prison Sentences Under Amended Cybercrime Law

On June 12, 2024, Niger’s Justice Minister announced amendments to the country’s 2019 cybercrime law, a controversial legislation that has been widely criticized for restricting free speech and human rights.

The law originally criminalized the “dissemination, production, and making available to others of data that may disturb public order.” In 2020, it was used as a legal tool to crack down on freedom of expression online, leading to arrests and prosecutions of journalists, activists, and social media users.

In 2022, under the government of then-President Mohamed Bazoum, the law was softened, replacing prison sentences with fines for defamation-related offenses. This was seen as a step toward aligning Niger’s legal framework with international human rights standards.

However, the latest June 12, 2024, amendments reverse these reforms by reinstating prison sentences, signaling a return to harsher penalties for online speech. This move has raised serious concerns among human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society organizations, who fear it could be used to suppress dissent and silence critical voices in the country.

The reinstatement of prison terms for cyber-related offenses comes amid an increasingly restrictive civic space in Niger, particularly following the 2023 military coup.