Moussa Tchangari Arrested Amid Human Rights Crackdown

Moussa Tchangari, a prominent human rights defender and Secretary General of the Alternat Citizen organization, was arrested at his home in Niamey by plainclothes officers on November 12, 2024. He was later charged with crimes associated with terrorism, undermining national defense, and intelligence.

Tchangari's arrest occurred shortly after he publicly criticized Niger's military government and the decision by the Interior Minister to revoke the licenses of two humanitarian NGOs operating in the country. His detention has raised concerns about the repression of civic space in Niger, particularly as it follows the arrest of 12 individuals in the same month.

Tchangari has a long history of activism, having been involved in Niger's civil society since the 1990s, and is known for organizing protests against hunger and poverty. His previous arrests include a notable incident in 2015 during the administration of President Mahamadou Issoufou, where he criticized the government's response to the Boko Haram insurgency.