Tomorrow, Thursday 19 May, a popular demonstration expressing lack of confidence in the judicial process and calling for an independent and impartial judiciary is due to take place in the capital Niamey. The protest was fuelled by the arrests of the activists on 28 April.

Ilguilas Weila, president of Timidria, Niger’s pioneering anti-slavery organisation and 2004 Anti-Slavery Award winner, and his colleague Alassane Biga are charged with illegally soliciting funds from an international organisation based in London, which we understand to mean Anti-Slavery International and as such view this charge as unfounded and baseless.

"Anti-Slavery International demands the immediate and unconditional release of Ilguilas Weila and Alassane Biga ; we are very concerned for their welfare and categorically refute the charges against them. The Government’s actions appear to be a concerted campaign not only to discredit their reputation and the work of Timidria, but also to silence efforts to end slavery in the country," Romana Cacchioli, Anti-Slavery International Africa Programme Officer, said.

According to a recent report by the Government’s National Human Rights Commission, it has recommended that Timidria be disbanded and its assets handed over to the Government ; this would be a serious blow to the fight against slavery — a subject that is regarded as taboo in Niger.

At least 43,000 people are in slavery across Niger. They are born into an established slave class and are made to carry out all labour required by their masters without pay, including herding, cleaning, moving their master’s tent to ensure he and his family are always in shade. The masters do nothing. Slaves are inherited, given as gifts and babies may be taken away from their mothers once weaned. They are denied all rights and choice.

In May 2004 a new law came into effect making practising slavery punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The Government’s move was in response to the publication of the first national survey of slavery, which was jointly carried out by Timidria and Anti-Slavery International, the world’s oldest international human rights organisation. The report established the extent and countrywide existence of slavery, having interviewed over 11,000 people, most of whom were found to be in slavery.

The charges against Weila and Biga relate to the planned but failed attempt to release 7,000 slaves in a ceremony in In Atès, a remote area near the Niger-Malian border, in early March 2005. In a ceremony announcing slavery to be a criminal offence, the authorities warned slave masters not to release their slaves officially, stating that if they did, they would be subject to up to 30 years in prison. Timidria and others also reported government intimidation, preventing slaves from attending the ceremony. Since then, the Government has declared there is no slavery in Niger.

Background :

About slavery in Niger

Information on Timidria

Recent news releases on Niger

Full joint report on slavery in Niger

In 2004, Timidria was awarded the 2004 Anti-Slavery Award in London for its pioneering work against slavery in Niger.