The September 2020 edition of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) monitoring of indecent and abusive language on radio in Niger has revealed an increasing incidence of indecent language on air among politicians.
During the monitoring period from September 1-30, 2020, a total of 410 programs were monitored on 10 radio stations broadcasting in the region of Niamey. The programmes monitored included news bulletins, political debates, news programmes and current affairs shows aired on the 10 radio stations selected for the exercise.
In total, fifty-nine (59) indecent expressions were recorded by seven political parties’ officials. The fifty-nine (59) indecent expressions included unsubstantiated allegations, threats, insulting and offensive comments, provocative and incendiary remarks. The seven officials who made the indecent expressions featured on interactive political shows, news bulletins and newspaper review programmes.
The main opposition party MODEN FA LUMANA recorded within the monitoring period the highest number of indecent expressions (50), followed by the MODEL MA AIKATA from the unaffiliated political parties and the RACIN HADIN KAY from the opposition who recorded each three (03) indecent expressions. The SDR SABOUA from the unaffiliated political parties and the PJD HAKIKA from the opposition recorded respectively two (02) and one (01) indecent expression.
The prominent political party officials cited during the monitoring included Hama Amadou, flagbearer of the MODEN FA LUMANA party; Noma Oumarou, Interim President, Soumana Sanda Niamey Regional President, both of the MODEN FA LUMANA party. The others are Mahaman Hamissou, President of the PJD HAKIKA party; Kané Habibou Kadaouré, President and presidential candidate of the SDR SABOUA party; Tahirou Guimaba; President of the MODEL MA AIKATA party and Mariama Gamatié, President of the RACIN HADIN KAY party.
All 10 radio stations monitored recorded indecent expressions. Labari radio recorded the highest number of indecent expressions (09) followed by Bonferey radio, R&M radio, Tambara radio, and Ténéré radio each recording seven (07) indecent expressions. Sarraounia radio, Niger 24, and Canal3 recorded five (05) indecent expressions. Dounia radio and Anfani radio each recorded respectively four (04) and three (03) indecent remarks.
The language monitoring project is implemented in Niger by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in partnership with its national partner, the Niger Observatory for Media Ethics (ONIMED). The project aims at promoting issue-based campaigning and peaceful elections in the 2020 general elections in Niger. The project is being implemented with funding support from OSIWA.
The full report (in French) can be accessed here.
The Instrument being used for the monitoring of indecent language on radio, is also available here (French version).
For more information about the monitoring report, kindly contact Ibrahim Moussa, Project Officer at ONIMED, Niger: Tel: +227 96 56 78 63 or send a mail at: [email protected].
