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Niger’s military government has suspended the BBC for three months, accusing it of spreading “fake news” that could destabilize public order and demoralize troops fighting jihadists.
The announcement, made by Minister of Communication Raliou Sidi Mohamed, took immediate effect. The suspension applies to BBC radio programs, which are broadcast in Niger’s most widely spoken languages, Hausa and French, through local radio partners. This year, the BBC reached 2.4 million listeners in Niger, approximately 17% of the adult population.
Allegations and Context
The junta did not cite a specific broadcast as the basis for the suspension but referenced recent BBC reports about jihadist attacks in the Tillaberi region. These reports claimed that 91 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians were killed in simultaneous attacks believed to involve Islamic State-aligned gunmen.
The government dismissed these reports as “baseless assertions” and accused the BBC of participating in a “campaign of intoxication” aimed at weakening troop morale and dividing the nation.
Conflicting Accounts
The attacks, reportedly occurring in Chatoumane village, were also covered by other sources, including security blogs. Accounts suggested that gunmen disguised as civilians launched one of the attacks during a weekly market, limiting soldiers’ ability to retaliate due to the risk of collateral damage.
Despite the suspension of its radio programs, the BBC’s website remains accessible, and its broadcasts can still be heard via shortwave. A BBC spokesperson defended its reporting, stating, “We stand by our journalism and will continue to report on the region without fear or favour.”
Broader Media Crackdown
The suspension of the BBC follows similar actions by Niger’s military government against French media outlets France24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI), which were banned after the coup in July 2023.
The junta also announced plans to file a complaint against RFI, accusing it of “incitement to genocide” and acting as a propaganda tool for France. RFI dismissed the claims as “extravagant and defamatory” and said they lacked evidence.
Regional Trends
The suspension of foreign media has become a recurring pattern in West Africa’s Sahel region, where coups in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have resulted in military-led governments clamping down on press freedoms. Burkina Faso also suspended the BBC after it published allegations of mass killings by the country’s army.
Continued Instability
Niger’s junta has struggled to address militant violence, one of the key justifications for deposing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023. The Tillaberi region, near the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, remains a hotspot for jihadist activity.
The Sahel has become a global epicenter for jihadist groups, including factions aligned with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda. Despite forming a regional alliance with Mali and Burkina Faso and expelling French troops in favor of support from Russia and Turkey, the violence persists unabated.
The suspension of the BBC reflects the growing tension between the junta and international media as it grapples with internal and external challenges.
