The government of Niger is continuing to detain Mamane Abou and Oumarou Keita, respectively the managing editor and editor of the daily “Le Republicain. The two men, who were arrested on 4 August, have been accused of publishing false information and defaming the state of Niger. They each face an 18-month prison term and a fine of 70,000 CFA Francs (110 Euros) if found guilty.

The accusations against the two journalists are allegedly being made in connection with an article entitled “Hama leaves the West for Iran”, which was published in the July 27 edition of “Le Republicain”. The article accused the government of Niger of strengthening its diplomatic ties with Iran and Venezuela to the detriment of those with Western countries. The two journalists were reportedly arrested in response to a complaint made by Niger’s Prime Minister, Hama Amadou, who was mentioned in this article.

Both defendants maintain that they are, in reality, being punished by the government for the publication of a series of articles in “Le Republicain” starting in April of this year. These articles investigated the financing of primary education in Niger, reportedly uncovering evidence of embezzlement and misappropriation of funds on behalf of the government, evidence which led to an audit by foreign aid donors and eventually to the dismissal of the ministers for health and education amidst allegations of corruption.

The journalists were tried in a Niamey Regional Court on August 14. The prosecutor requested an eighteen month sentence and a fine of 70,000 CFA Francs (110 Euros) for each of the defendants; 12 months imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 CFA Francs (80 Euros) each for the charge of publishing “false” information as well as a further six months imprisonment and fine of 20,000 CFA Francs (30 Euros) each for the charge of defamation.

The journalists defence lawyers, Moussa Coulibaly and Souley Omarou, walked out of the courthouse during the hearing, boycotting the trial in protest at alleged judicial irregularities. They questioned the legality of the trial, in which witnesses are not required to appear. The lawyers also raised questions about the neutrality of judge Chaibou Moussa, who is presiding over the trial. Moussa previously presided over a 2003 case in which Mamane Abou was sentenced to six months in prison for defamation, a verdict that was subsequently overturned by an appeals court.

Both lawyers fear for the safety of their clients, who have been remanded in custody in separate prisons far from the capital Niamey and outside of the court’s administrative jurisdiction. Their clients will remain in custody until the court is reconvened on 1 September, at which point a verdict is expected.