Cell Norbert Zongo Investigative Journalism in West Africa (CENOZO) has called on the Government of Niger Republic to end the judicial harassment of journalists in that country.
CENOZO, in a statement made available to The Next Edition, condemned the conviction of investigative journalist, Moussa Aksar, describing it as a serious and damaging attack on press freedom in Niger Republic.
The statement noted that on January 3, 2022, investigative journalist, Moussa Aksar, director of the newspaper “L’Evenement” and president of the board of CENOZO was sentenced to two months imprisonment.
It said the sentence was, however, suspended and he was handed a 500,000 fcfa fine, for having relayed on the website of his newspaper, an article by experts of Global Initiative, an NGO fighting against transnational crime on drug trafficking in Niger Republic.
“This conviction is a serious and damaging attack on press freedom in Niger,” the statement read in part.
The statement also noted that in 2021, Moussa Aksar, appeared in two different trials, with more than a dozen summons. He was prosecuted for defamation for his investigation into financial malpractice in the Ministry of National Defence in Niger Republic and was sentenced in the first instance to a fine of 200.000 fcfa and 1,000,000 fcfa in damages.
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The statement said the journalist has appealed against this sentence but while the appeal has not yet begun, he is the subject of new legal proceedings, this time for having relayed an article by experts on drug trafficking, which implicates the authorities in Niger Republic.
He is being prosecuted together with the Nigerien journalist, Samira Sabou, who is accused of mentioning the article in a Facebook post.
CENOZO noted that these various lawsuits are a cleverly orchestrated attempts to prevent investigative journalist Moussa Aksar from doing his work in peace.
“This shows a clear desire on the part of the Niger authorities to silence an experienced journalist whose probity and ethics are known and praised throughout the world.
CENOZO also noted that the justice system which is quick to investigate complaints against journalists, has, for nearly two years turned a deaf ear to the complaint of investigative journalist Moussa Aksar against a notorious arms trafficker who threatened him with death while he was investigating financial misappropriations in the Ministry of National Defence of Niger Republic.
CENOZO reminded the Niger Republic authorities that freedom of expression and information is a fundamental and inalienable right and an indispensable element of democracy guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Niger, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa.
CENOZO, therefore, called on the authorities in that country to end the judicial harassment of journalists and work towards the establishment of a environment conducive to quality journalism, which is vital for the entrenchment of democracy and the promotion of universal values such as peace, tolerance, justice, good governance and non-discrimination for sustainable social cohesion.
