Media assets

Television: Tele-Sahel, TAL TV

Radio: La Voix du Sahel

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Established by Law 67‑011 in 1967, RTN is a state-owned entity under the Ministry of Communication. Its Board of Directors, appointed by the government, oversees its affairs. Since January 2023, veteran journalist Toudou Mariama Issaka has served as General Director, a position nominated by executive decree.

Source of funding and budget

RTN’s funding model comprises: state subsidies, covering roughly 70% of its roughly US $ 2 million annual budget—substantially higher than the 52% seen a decade ago; license fees, levied on every household; and commercial income, including advertising and program sales. Due to a lack of publicly disclosed financial reports, these figures rely on expert assessments.

Editorial independence

Although no legal mandate enforces pro-government bias, RTN is widely regarded as “blatantly pro-government,” predominantly broadcasting official communiqués while steering clear of criticism toward state institutions.

This allegiance has deepened since the July 2023 military coup, as RTN became a mouthpiece for the ruling junta. Following the overthrow of President Bazoum, the junta—which formally declared a five‑year transitional plan in March 2025—tightened its grip on state media and shuttered international outlets. The government has also suspended international broadcasters like RFI, France 24, and the BBC since 2023—a move formalized by a three‑month BBC blackout in late 2024. In March 2025, new regulations were proposed to require government licensing for WhatsApp or Facebook groups exceeding 50 members, marking an expanding crackdown on social media.

Under these circumstances, RTN’s editorial content aligns closely with government narratives, with minimal public dissent or scrutiny.

Notably, no domestic oversight mechanisms, such as an independent ombudsman or press council,have been enacted to ensure impartiality.

June 2025

Media assets

Publishing: Le Sahel, Le Sahel Dimanche

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Established in 1989 via Decree No. 89‑26, ONEP is fully owned by the state and steered by a ten-member Board of Directors appointed by the government. This structure ensures that management changes align squarely with official policy and political priorities.

Source of funding and budget

While ONEP, including Le Sahel, earns a portion of its income from advertising, it remains heavily reliant on state aid. Financial transparency is lacking: no audited accounts or public budgetary details are available. According to insiders, maintaining solvency hinges on government funding. In January 2023, the publisher modestly raised the cover price of its publications to shore up revenues.

Le Sahel had a daily print run of approximately 3,000–4,000 copies in 2024, with ONEP also releasing a weekly supplement, Sahel Dimanche, which sells around 5,000 copies per week.

Editorial independence

There is no statutory mandate preventing Le Sahel from adopting a critical stance. However, government control over appointments ensures an editorial line that often mirrors official narratives. An independent assessment conducted for this project in May 2024 found a distinct pro-government tilt, with stories largely lifted from press releases and little dissent. The July 2023 coup triggered stepped-up pressure on media outlets—there’s little sign Le Sahel has bucked that trend.

The military takeover has dramatically sharpened media restrictions, with journalists facing surveillance, arrests, and self-censorship.

A February 2025 government ministerial visit to ONEP highlighted efforts to bolster technical and editorial infrastructure—though independence remains off the table.

June 2025

Media assets

News agency: ANP

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

ANP operates as a public entity under the Ministry of Communication. Its Director General—appointed by the government and currently Malam Mamane Dalatou since January 2020—is the top authority, shaping both managerial and editorial directions.

Dalatou, who was reappointed in 2022 after first taking office in 2020, is the top authority, shaping both managerial and editorial directions. Dalatou is a veteran journalist with decades of experience in Nigerien public media, having previously worked as a correspondent for national radio and later served as editor-in-chief at ORTN. His reappointment in 2022 signaled political continuity and regime trust, but it did not bring about any structural reforms in editorial policy or independence.

Source of funding and budget

According to local media scholars interviewed for this report in May 2025, ANP relies heavily on government subsidies. The last available financial snapshot dates back to 2017, when its budget was CFA 83.5 million (US$ 150 000), with 72% coming from state support.

No recent financial audits or public budgets have surfaced since, though Niger’s overall 2025 national budget grew modestly, suggesting that ANP likely continues to depend primarily on public funding.

Editorial independence

There’s no formal requirement to favor the government in ANP’s coverage, but its editorial stance reflects quiescent alignment with official narratives—due mainly to government-controlled management appointments.

ANP remains active online, publishing government briefings and news (e.g. the 2025 Finance Law announcement) but continues to echo official lines with minimal independent sourcing. Independent content analysis carried out for this report in May 2024 and January 2025 consistently finds strong pro-government bias in thematic emphasis and framing. Notably, no independent oversight mechanisms or press council monitoring are in place.

Following the July 2023 coup, Niger’s media landscape, including ANP, experienced stricter controls. Press freedom has sharply declined, with private and foreign media facing suspensions, arrests, and bans.

June 2025