Media Reform: Agreement Between the Republic Niger Government and the ORA
Implementations
Media Reform – 1995
Government granted a license to one independent television station in 1995 that is not yet operational.1
Media Reform – 1996
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.1 No substantive reform was yet to be made.
Media Reform – 1997
No information is available on the creation of radio stations.
Media Reform – 1998
No information is available on the creation of radio stations or the distribution of new licenses.
Media Reform – 1999
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.1
Media Reform – 2000
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.1
- “Niger: TV channel, two FM radio stations given provisional operating licenses,” BBC Monitoring Africa — Economic, February 5, 2000.
Media Reform – 2001
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.1
- “Niger’s Radio Project To Help Turn In Guns For Peace,” Panafrican News Agency (PANA) Daily Newswire, December 24, 2001.
Media Reform – 2002
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 20021; in Simiri on July 7, 20022; and in Zinder region on 12 July 2002.3
- “Community radio station inaugurated in Dolbel – Tera District,” BBC Sumary of World Broadcasts, April 14, 2002.
- “Minister inaugurates community radio station in Simiri,” BBC Sumary of World Broadcasts, July 9, 2002.
- “Niger: Community radio station inaugurated in Zinder region,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, July 13, 2002.
Media Reform – 2003
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.1 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.”2
- “Niger: Communications council suspends 15 radio stations,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, October 2, 2003.
- “Niger Human Rights Practices, 2003,” U.S. Department of State, 2004.
Media Reform – 2004
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