relief – Hamid Mahmoud, a journalist from Radio Sahara FM in Agadez, was arrested in May 2025 after reporting on the alleged “rupture” of security agreements between Niger and Russia.

A wave of relief swept through the media community in Niger this Friday as Hamid Mahmoud, a respected journalist with Radio Sahara FM based in Agadez, was finally released from detention. His freedom, confirmed by a prominent member of a Nigerien private media association and also announced by Aïr Info, a sister publication to Radio Sahara FM, marks the end of an ordeal that lasted over a year.

Mahmoud’s arrest took place in May 2025, alongside two colleagues from the same media outlet. Their detention followed reports they broadcast concerning the purported termination of security contracts between Niger and Russia. This development occurred amidst the Niamey military regime’s increasing alignment with Moscow. Established in 2003, Sahara FM stands as one of the most influential radio stations operating across Niger’s vast northern desert region.

Following their initial apprehension in Agadez, the three journalists were transferred to Niamey in mid-May 2025. The subsequent month saw them brought before a military tribunal. Aïr Info detailed that Hamid Mahmoud was formally committed to Kollo civil prison, located near Niamey, on June 13, 2025. He initially faced serious accusations of “undermining national defense” and “conspiracy against state authority,” though these charges were ultimately reclassified as a press offense.

thirteen journalists detained in Niger during 2025

Among the other journalists detained alongside Mahmoud, Mahaman Sani regained his freedom in August 2025, while Massaouda Jaharou was granted provisional release shortly after their initial arrest. The broader context reveals a challenging environment for media professionals, with a total of thirteen journalists having been arrested across Niger throughout 2025.