90.
The media space in Niger has been making progress since 2016. In addition to the 2 public
newspapers and 54 private newspapers, Niger has eight (8) on-line news websites.
91.
The following table highlights the number of public and private radio and television stations
operating in the country on a regional basis:
Table 2: Status of Number of Television and Radio Stations by Region
Regions
AGADEZ
DIFFA
DOSSO
MARADI
NIAMEY
TAHOUA
TILLABERY
ZINDER
Private
Television
Stations
15
1
Private
Television
Relays
4
3
4
4
5
3
4
Private Radio
Stations
5
8
10
30
9
8
7
Private Radio
Relays
8
4
7
7
4
7
3
8
Community radio stations
21
16
22
27
7
29
38
33
Source: CSC March 2019
92.
The challenges in the way of press freedom are the same as those raised in the 2014-2016
periodic report, namely the insecurity of media outlets, lack of responsibility on the part of the
stakeholders in a highly diversified media environment and the fact that the labour bargaining
agreement of media workers has not been signed.
93.
Measures have been taken to surmount some of the challenges; these include the passage of
Decree No. 2017-052/PRN/MC of 25 January 2017 governing the practice of the advertising
profession via the press. In this regard, the High Communications Council published on 3
December 2018 a communiqué calling for the respect of the law, including Ruling No.
0004/P/CSC of 30 November 2017 which determines the conditions for authorization to practise
the advertising profession via the press.
94.
With regard to the labour bargaining agreement of media workers, and in the light of the
financial implications it will have, media owners made the adoption of the law on advertising via
the press a precondition for it to be signed.
95.
Following a quarterly monitoring mission, the Niger Independent Media Ethics Observatory
(ONIMED) made public on 3 August 2019 a communiqué in which it stated that for 79 registered
newspapers, 30 breaches were observed; they violated Article 7 of the code of ethics of journalists
and Article 10 of the Journalists’ Charter which forbids plagiarism, libel, defamation and any
action aimed at harming a colleague or a press house.
H.
Freedom of Association: Articles 10 and 11
96.
Although the number of NGOs and associations has increased, the regulatory framework
has not been amended since the last report was submitted. Thus, in 1990, there were only 60 of
them, but the number rose to 2,735 in 2017 and reached 2,895 as at 31 December 2018. A
memorandum of understanding is adopted every five years through an order issued by the Minister
responsible for their sector ministry; it is reached between the NGOs/ADs on the one hand, and the
State on the other hand, and specifies their respective commitments and sanctions to be applied in
the event of violations.
30