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NIGER: ILAAD BRINGS THE ARBITRARY DETENTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER MOUSSA TCHANGARI TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Updated: Sep 12

The International League Against Arbitrary Detention (ILAAD), alongside the Alternatives Espaces Citoyens (AEC), have submitted a complaint to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) on behalf of Mr. Moussa Tiangari AISSAMI TATA (said Moussa Tchangari).


A HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER ARBITRARILY DETAINED UNDER VAGUE LAWS


This action concerns the arbitrary detention of Nigerien Moussa Tchangari, a Human rights defender, co-founder and secretary general of the Alternative Espaces Citoyens association, and one of the most recognized figures in Nigerien civil society. After participating in an international conference-debate organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Côte d'Ivoire (Abidjan), he was arrested without a warrant or title on 3 December 2024, at his home by four unidentified armed men in civilian clothing. On 5 December, after 48 hours of incommunicado detention, he was transferred to the  Central Service for Combating Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime (SCLCT/CTO), where he discovered that he was arrested for financing terrorism, apology for terrorism, criminal association in connection with terrorism, and undermining state security.


A month later, he was placed in custody at Filingué civil prison and formally charged with apology for regionalism, criminal conspiracy in connection with a terrorist enterprise, undermining state security, undermining national defense, and conspiracy against state authority in collusion with enemy powers.


Despite several calls from NGO's (Amnesty International, Amnesty Belgique, FIDH), and various internal remedies, Mr. Moussa Tchangari remains detained in a Niamey prison under vague laws, without any reason being given to justify his continued detention for more than 6 months. His detention is without any legal basis and in violation of his rights to freedom of expression, of association, and to take part in the conduct of public affairs.


ACTIONS REQUESTED TO THE UN WORKING GROUP AGAINST ARBITRARY DETENTION


In these circumstances, ILAAD and Alternative Espaces Citoyens respectfully requested that the Working Group renders an opinion finding the deprivation of liberty against the victim to be arbitrary and falling within category I, II, III and V and :


  • demand that the Government of Niger takes the necessary measures to remedy the situation of the applicant without delay and bring it into line with the relevant international standards, including those set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Covenant;


  • consider that, taking into account all the circumstances of the case, the appropriate remedy would be the immediate release of the applicant and the granting of the right to obtain redress, including compensation, in accordance with international law;


  • urge the Government of Niger to ensure that a thorough and independent investigation is carried out into the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary detention of the applicant and to take appropriate action against those responsible for the violation of his rights.


ILAAD recalls that the WGAD adopted other opinions in recent years concerning arbitrary detention in the Republic of the Niger (for example, Opinion No. 56/2024), which could characterize a recurrent pattern of prolonged pre-trial detention.

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