Niger Junta Suspends Nine French Media Outlets, Watchdog Calls Move 'Abusive'
Niger's military government has suspended the operations of nine French media outlets, including state-funded broadcasters. Press-freedom watchdogs labelled the move abusive and said it pushes Paris-Niamey tensions deeper into open hostility.
Niger's military authorities announced the suspension of nine French media outlets, including state broadcasters RFI and France 24 and titles such as Le Monde. The move marks one of the sharpest steps yet in the diplomatic break between Paris and Niamey since the 2023 coup.
Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists described the suspension as censorship and arbitrary use of regulatory power. The decision plays out as French influence across the Sahel continues to erode and as Niamey deepens security cooperation with Russia and Turkey.
France's foreign ministry condemned the move as an attack on pluralistic press freedom. A European Commission spokesperson hinted that Brussels could re-examine elements of its Sahel support package. Niamey countered that the suspension was a response to what it called structured French-language disinformation.
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