Constitutional Provisions

The 2010 Constitution (as amended) is the basis for Niger's Seventh Republic. It stipulates that all Nigeriens are born free and equal in rights and that the human person is sacred. "The State has the absolute obligation to respect it and to protect it."Arts. 10 and 11, 2010 Constitution (as amended).Everyone has the right to life, health, and physical and mental integrity.Art. 12, 2010 Constitution (as amended).The rights of every person to freedom and security "in the conditions defined by the law" and to freedom from torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment are also guaranteed.Arts. 12 and 14, 2010 Constitution (as amended).

The State recognizes and guarantees the freedom of movement, the freedoms of association, assembly, procession and manifestation within the conditions defined by the law.Art. 32, 2010 Constitution (as amended).

The Nigerien Constitution does not address the use of force by the police or other law enforcement agencies. It does, though, observe that national law "establishes the rules concerning" the statute of military personnel, the national gendarmerie, the security forces, and other similar forces.Art. 99, 2010 Constitution (as amended).

Treaty Adherence

Global Treaties

Adherence to Selected Human Rights Treaties
1966 Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) State Party
ICCPR Optional Protocol 1 State Party
1984 Convention against Torture (CAT) State Party
Competence of CAT Committee to receive individual complaints Yes
CAT Optional Protocol 1 State Party
Adherence to International Criminal Law Treaties
1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court State Party

Regional Treaties

Adherence to Regional Human Rights Treaties

1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights

State Party
1998 Protocol to the African Charter on the African Court State Party
Article 34(6) declaration regarding individual petitions No
Adherence to International Criminal Law Treaties at Regional Level
Malabo Protocol on the African Court of Justice and Human Rights Not party

National Legislation

Police Use of Force

Niger does not have detailed provisions governing police use of force, and especially the use of firearms, in its domestic laws. A 2011 decree approved the Code of Ethics and Duties of the National Police.Decree No. 2011-164/PCSRD/MIS/D/AR dated 31 March 2011.According to the 2011 Decree, when the law allows the use of force, and in particular, the use of weapons, a police officer must only use force that is strictly necessary and proportionate to the objective sought.Art. 10, Decree No. 2011-164/PCSRD/MIS/D/AR dated 31 March 2011.

The use of firearms is partially regulated by a 2014 decree on equipment to be used in public order policing. The decree stipulates that in addition to use in self-defence, use of firearms in public order policing must be specifically authorised in accordance with the Penal Code.Art. 7, Décret N°2014-724/PRN/MI/D/AC/R du 26 Novembre 2014.The 2003 Penal Code authorises the use of force, including potentially lethal force, to disperse an unlawful gathering that may disturb public order.Art. 97, 2003 Penal Code.These provisions do not comply with international law.

Police Oversight

The National Police is under the control of the Ministry of the Interior while the Gendarmerie is under the control of the Ministry of Defence. There is no external police oversight body.

Under Article 2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the victims or their next of kin have the right to sue for damages in a civil action to obtain compensation for harm resulting from a crime or misdemeanour.

Caselaw

Global

Views and Concluding Observations of United Nations Treaty Bodies

In its 2019 Concluding Observations on Niger, the Committee against Torture expressed its concern "at allegations that journalists, human rights defenders and members of the opposition have been subjected to excessive use of force, arbitrary arrest and detention under counter-terrorism legislation".

The Committee called on Niger to

Carry out impartial and thorough investigations into all allegations of excessive use of force, develop clear guidelines on the use of force and weapons, incorporating the principles of lawfulness, necessity, proportionality and the precautionary principle and bring laws and regulations governing the use of force into line with international standards, in particular the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials;

In its 2019 Concluding Observations on Niger, the Human Rights Committee expressed its concern about reports of excessive use of force by police officers to disperse demonstrations. It expressed concern over allegations of police violence during the student demonstrations in April 2017.

Regional

There is no caselaw from the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights on the use of force by the Nigerien police.

National

Niger has reported that the police officers who tortured a student arrested in April 2017 during a demonstration in Niamey were sentenced to two years' imprisonment and order to pay damages to the victim. A prison officer was incarcerated following the use of force that led to the death of a detainee at N'Guigmi remand centre in September 2016. Administrative sanctions were imposed on National Guard agents who inflicted inhumane treatment on a detainee in 2016 at Keita remand centre.

Downloads

2010 Constitution of Niger (as amended)

2011 Decree on the Code of Ethics and Duties of the National Police (French original)

2014 Decree on Equipment to be used in Public Order Policing

2003 Penal Code of Niger

Human Rights Committee Concluding Observations on Niger (2019)

Committee against Torture Concluding Observations on Niger (2019)