Human rights defender Mr Wada Maman is facing charges of property damage and public participation in an unauthorised gathering following his release from detention on bail on 26 August 2009.

Further Information

Wada Maman was arrested on 22 August 2009 in Niamey, Niger. Wada Maman is the secretary general of the Association Nigérienne de Lutte contre la Corruption – Niger Association of the Fight against Corruption (ANLC) and a leading member of the Publish What You Pay national coalition in Niger, known as ROTAB.

Wada Maman has also recently become the secretary general of the Front Uni pour la Sauvegarde des Acquis Démocratiques – United Front for Safeguarding Democratic Gains (FUSAD), a network of NGOs established to preserve democratic structures in the context of Niger’s ongoing political crisis. On 17 August 2009, Front Line issued an appeal concerning the ongoing detention of the president of FUSAD, Mr Marou Amadou who is being held in the Koutoukali high-security prison 113 km from Niamey.

On 26 August 2009, at approximately 5.30 p.m., Wada Maman was released from detention on following a court hearing before a judge at the Palais de Justice in Niamey. At the court hearing he was charged with “destruction of property” and “public participation in an unauthorised gathering,” charges that carry a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a 100,000 FCFA (€150) fine.

It is reported that court observers were not allowed to enter the court and that there was a strong police presence guarding the building. Wada Maman was one of eight people to come before the judge on 26 August in connection with protest activities against President Mamadou Tandja's constitutional reform, aimed at securing a new term in office. Ten other people who were also detained in connection with these protests will be brought before the judge on 27 August 2009.

On 22 August 2009, Wada Maman was travelling from his home in Niamey to the home of another ANLC member when members of the Republican Guard stopped and arrested him alleging that he had participated in an illegal demonstration held on the same day, in another part of the city, in protest to President Mamadou Tandja's constitutional reform. Wada Maman denied participating in the demonstration, during which 10 more people were arrested.

It is believed that the arrest of Wada Maman and the charges pending against him are motivated by the stance he, and the organisations he is involved in, took in relation to the constitutional reform and the use of the country's natural resources.

ROTAB recently suspended its participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a process to further transparency in the management of natural resources, due to increased intimidation of civil society activists working on transparency and good governance.

On 27 July 2009, the ANLC wrote an open letter to Nigerien President Mamadou Tandja in which it called on the government to respect the rule of law, safeguard an independent judiciary and guarantee functioning democratic institutions that would further transparency, accountability and good governance.

Front Line believes that the charges against On 26 August 2009, at approximately 5.30 p.m., Wada Maman was released from detention on following a court hearing before a judge at the Palais de Justice in Niamey. At the court hearing he was charged with “destruction of property” and “public participation in an unauthorized gathering,” charges that carry a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a 100,000 FCFA (€150) fine. It is reported that court observers were not allowed to enter the court and that there was a strong police presence guarding the building. Wada Maman was one of eight people to come before the judge on 26 August in connection with protest activities against President Mamadou Tandja's constitutional reform, aimed at securing a new term in office. Ten other people who were also detained in connection with these protests will be brought before the judge on 27 August 2009.

On 22 August 2009, Wada Maman was travelling from his home in Niamey to the home of another ANLC member when members of the Republican Guard stopped and arrested him alleging that he had participated in an illegal demonstration held on the same day, in another part of the city, in protest to President Mamadou Tandja's constitutional reform. Wada Maman denied participating in the demonstration, during which 10 more people were arrested.

It is believed that the arrest of Wada Maman and the charges pending against him are motivated by the stance he, and the organisations he is involved in, took in relation to the constitutional reform and the use of the country's natural resources. ROTAB recently suspended its participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a process to further transparency in the management of natural resources, due to increased intimidation of civil society activists working on transparency and good governance. On 27 July 2009, the ANLC wrote an open letter to Nigerien President Mamadou Tandja in which it called on the government to respect the rule of law, safeguard an independent judiciary and guarantee functioning democratic institutions that would further transparency, accountability and good governance.

Front Line believes that the charges against Wada Maman, in addition to his arrest which followed the arrest of other human rights defenders including Marou Amadou, may be aimed at intimidating civil society leaders in the lead-up to the general elections in October and may form part of a crackdown on human rights defenders and media personnel in reaction to escalating popular protests against President Tandja. Front Line believes that Wada Maman is at risk of further arrest and intimidation. , in addition to his arrest which followed the arrest of other human rights defenders including Marou Amadou, may be aimed at intimidating civil society leaders in the lead-up to the general elections in October and may form part of a crackdown on human rights defenders and media personnel in reaction to escalating popular protests against President Tandja. Front Line believes that Wada Maman is at risk of further arrest and intimidation.