The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) condemns the arrest of two Nigerien citizens, Ibrahim Kalla and Sani Hercule, by Niger’s Judicial Police over critical remarks made in a WhatsApp group.
Kalla, a business owner, and Hercule, president of a transporters’ union, were arrested on April 3, 2025, after commenting on the worsening economic conditions in the Maradi region of Niger. In the WhatsApp group, they criticised the performance of the region’s governor and the head of the customs brigade, expressing their desire to see both officials step down.
This arrest represents a serious violation of the right to freedom of expression. As citizens affected by the country’s economic situation, Kalla and Hercule have the right to express their concerns, including criticism of public officials. Prosecuting them for exercising this right reflects a troubling pattern of repression against dissenting voices in Niger since the military regime took power on July 28, 2023.
Even more concerning is the fact that their comments were made in a WhatsApp group—a platform widely regarded as private and encrypted. The arrests suggest that the authorities may be monitoring citizens’ private conversations, raising grave concerns about privacy violations, unlawful surveillance, and the erosion of digital rights in the country.
The MFWA strongly denounces the arrests of Ibrahim Kalla and Sani Hercule, and urges the Judicial Police to release them unconditionally. We also call on the Nigerien authorities to respect the rights of citizens to freely express themselves both online and offline, in accordance with national and international human rights standards.