Niger strips citizenship from seven figures tied to overthrown government

Niger’s authorities announced on Tuesday new provisional revocations of citizenship, targeting several key figures and associates of the government ousted by a military coup in July 2023.

The seven individuals, who include former senior ministers and military figures, are accused of involvement in “terrorist acts” and “collusion with a foreign power.”

In a statement read on state television, the Nigerien government revealed that President General Abdourahamane Tiani had signed a decree on Tuesday ordering the revocation of these individuals’ citizenship “for various offenses specified and punishable by law.”

The government stated that these citizenship revocations are provisional, pending further legal action.

Among those affected are two prominent ministers from the ousted civilian government: former Foreign Affairs Minister Hassoumi Massoudou and former Commerce Minister Alkache Alhada.

Authorities had previously announced that both men face prosecution by a military court, with Massoudou charged with “conspiracy against state authority and treason” and Alhada accused of “treason and conspiracy against national security.”

Also included in this latest action are Seydina Maman Kadela, an ex-colonel in Niger’s army, as well as Mahmoud Sallah and Moussa Sallah, also known as “Kounai.”

The latter two were members of newly-formed rebel fronts following the coup and have been advocating for the restoration of the former regime.

Mahmoud Sallah’s group, the Patriotic Liberation Front (FPL), has claimed responsibility for attacks on the military in Niger’s northern regions and the sabotage of an oil pipeline carrying crude to Benin.

The government alleges that these seven figures are “suspected of explosive-based terrorist attacks” and “acts of support for terrorism,” as well as “collusion with a foreign power to incite hostilities against the state,” “undermining military loyalty,” “treason against national security,” and “disseminating information likely to disrupt public order.”

These latest measures follow an August ordinance that authorized the creation of a registry for individuals and entities “involved in terrorism or other offenses that threaten the strategic and fundamental interests of the nation.”

In mid-October, General Tiani similarly revoked the citizenship of nine other officials from the deposed regime, including former presidential guard commander General Karingama Wali Ibrahim and Daouda Djibo Takoubakoye, a senior advisor to deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, who remains under detention since the July coup.