Niger's Minister of Justice, Alio Daouda, has confirmed that journalist Moussa Kaka is being held in detention. In a statement to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the minister said Moussa Kaka is "alive" and will "answer to the courts" for an unspecified offense. This confirmation comes after weeks of silence from the authorities regarding Moussa Kaka's disappearance on August 31.
Moussa Kaka, director of Radio Télévision Saraounia, went missing two days after a mutiny occurred at several military installations in Niamey, Niger's capital. He was last seen leaving his office in the Kalley Est neighborhood and was expected to go home to the Lossogoungou neighborhood, but never arrived. His personal vehicle was also not found. RSF considers Moussa Kaka a victim of enforced disappearance and is calling for his immediate release.
The minister's statement was made during the Universal Periodic Review of Niger at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 25. He responded to a question from the African Meeting for the Defense of Human Rights (RADDHO) about Moussa Kaka's disappearance. While confirming Moussa Kaka's detention, the minister did not provide any information on the journalist's whereabouts or the reasons for his arrest.
RSF has expressed concern over Moussa Kaka's situation, stating that enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention are serious human rights abuses. The organization recalls that Niger has ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, which defines enforced disappearance as the arrest or detention of a person followed by concealment of their fate or whereabouts.
The disappearance of Moussa Kaka has sparked international attention, with RSF filing a complaint with the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances on September 28. The Committee on Enforced Disappearances has urged Niger to clarify Moussa Kaka's fate and whereabouts. RSF has also contacted the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Moussa Kaka has had a 40-year career in journalism, previously working as a correspondent for Radio France Internationale (RFI) and RSF. His detention has raised concerns about press freedom and human rights in Niger. RSF's Africa bureau director, Sadibou Marong, has called on the authorities to release Moussa Kaka immediately and ensure his physical and psychological integrity.
The case of Moussa Kaka highlights the challenges faced by journalists in Niger and the need for the authorities to respect human rights and press freedom. The international community is watching closely, and RSF will continue to advocate for Moussa Kaka's release and the protection of journalists in Niger.
Key points
- Moussa Kaka's detention was confirmed by Niger's Minister of Justice, but the reasons for his arrest and his whereabouts remain unknown.
- RSF considers Moussa Kaka a victim of enforced disappearance and is calling for his immediate release.
- The international community, including the UN, has expressed concern over Moussa Kaka's situation and urged Niger to clarify his fate and whereabouts.
