By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
Seyni Amadou, the chief editor of Canal 4 TV, has been arrested, according to the CAP-Medias-Niger union, which represents media workers in the country.
Last Friday, the Ministry of Communication in Niger announced the suspension of his TV station for one month.
The Daily Reality understands that the prominent journalist in the Republic of Niger was arrested on Saturday, just a day after the suspension of his independent TV station, following a report criticizing the government of the country’s military regime.
Last Friday, the Ministry of Communication in Niger announced the one-month suspension of his TV station.
The country’s national TV station, Tele Sahel, stated that the action against Canal 3 TV was taken “for violating operational standards.”
Canal 3 TV informed the French news agency AFP in a statement that the suspension was related to broadcasts that criticized ministers in the government of Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, a civilian appointed by the military regime.
The report listed Zeine as the leading minister, while many of his ministers were described as weak in the government.
In a statement released on Friday, CAP condemned the arrest and detention of Amadou, calling for the respect of journalists’ rights.
It added, “Never in the history of the executive body has such a media shutdown been disregarded, including in special circumstances.”
CAP urged the Minister of Communication, Sidi Raliou Mohamed, to review his decision.
Bazoum was a close ally of Western nations in the fight against jihadism in the Sahel region.
Since the coup, Niger’s military authorities have distanced themselves from France, which previously colonized them, and have sought closer ties with other military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Russia.
The military government has also shut down several international media outlets, including Radio France International (RFI), France 24, and the BBC.