Niger lawyer faces five-year prison request over social media posts

Lawyer Abdourahamane Lirwana is facing prosecution in Niger following social media posts regarding the state of the national army. He is charged with “diffusion of data of a nature to disturb public order” under the 2024 cybercriminality ordinance.

During his appearance at the Niamey Court of First Instance, the prosecution requested a five-year prison sentence and a fine of five million CFA francs. Lirwana has been in detention since late September. His defense team has contested the trial conditions, arguing that guarantees for a fair trial have not been met, and subsequently advised their client to remain silent during the proceedings. A final court decision is expected on October 13.