In Niger, human rights defender Moussa Tchangari was placed under arrest on Friday, January 3 in the afternoon, and transferred to Filingué, 180 kilometers from Niamey. After being forcibly taken away by armed men at the beginning of December, the secretary general of the Alternative Espace Citoyen association had been in police custody since the end of December.
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After more than a month in police custody in the premises of state security and those of the anti-terrorist services, Moussa Tchangari was therefore presented on January 3 to the dean of judges. After the first exchanges, the latter charged him and placed him under arrest at Filingué prison, north of Niamey.
He was targeted by three already known charges: “ attack on state security “, ” criminal association linked to terrorism ” And ” apology for terrorism “. But he was also charged with two new charges: “ attack on national defense ” And ” intelligence with enemy powers “.
Moussa Tchangari was accompanied by his lawyers, members of his family and several members of the human rights movement. A large police force was visible around the Niamey high court.
The general secretary of Alternative Espace Citoyen had been arrested at night at his home without a warrantearly December. His computer, mobile phones and suitcase had been confiscated by the services of the DGDSE, Niger’s external security. Several international human rights associations are demanding his unconditional release.
His arrest on December 3 had caused a wave of emotion in civil society West African. The lawyer and human rights defender Mamane Kaka Touda, collaborator of Moussa Tchangari, regretted the court’s decision, leaving the Niamey courthouse.
“This is only the first step, we are waiting in the days to come for the case to be followed up on its merits,” reacts jurist Mamane Kaka Touda soberly.
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