Unlike in the previous year, there were no reports that the Government closed down radio stations.¹

2005: In March, government ordered the police to close a private radio stations without informing the CSC on issue related to VAT increase. After a court ruling, however, the closed station reopened in May.²

On 30 Sept. 2003, Niger’s Higher Council for Communications (Conseil superieur de la Communication, CSC) withdrew the broadcasting licenses of 15 private radio stations, saying their owners had failed to comply with Niger’s laws.³ According to a report, the CSC “had issued permanent licenses to the 4 stations, which began broadcasting; the 11 other stations still had not received licenses.”⁴

As the Niger government had opted for the decentralization of infrastructures, the number of community radio stations increased in Niger. Rural radio stations were inaugurated in Tera District on 12 April 2002⁵; in Simiri on July 7, 2002⁶; and in Zinder region on 12 July 2002.⁷

It was reported that the UNDP sponsored projects donated thousands of radios for a project to help secure peace and reduce poverty in Niger. It was said that the radios would boost a vibrant network of community radio stations, the Rural Radio Network and Information Centers for Development. Almost 20 solar powered stations were on the air, and the network expects to grow to 160 stations within a few years.⁸

The National Communications Observatory (ONC) of Niger had approved a private television channel and two radio stations – one in Niamey and the other in Dosso.⁹

The government had maintained a multilingual national radio service and provided time for all political parties once the transitional government assumed power. There were reports that the private newspapers, which were more critical of government actions than the private radio stations were under threat of government actions.¹⁰

No information is available on the creation of radio stations or the distribution of new licenses.

No information is available on the creation of radio stations.

No information is available on the creation of radio stations. The government violated freedom of speech by intimidating the private press and radio, arresting and mistreating journalists and publishers, and temporarily closing two private radio stations.¹¹ No substantive reform was yet to be made.

Government granted a license to one independent television station in 1995 that is not yet operational.¹²