This week Reporters Without Borders ended a five-day fact-finding visit to Niamey with a news conference at the Niger Press Club to present its initial findings and conclusions, including the observation that the press freedom situation has improved .

The Reporters Without Borders delegation, consisting of Ambroise Pierre, the head of the Africa desk, and board member Jean-Louis Saporito, met with the communication minister, the justice minister, Gen. Salou Djibo (who led the transitional government after Tandja’s removal) and several of Niger’s international partners.

Despite a difficult economic environment, Reporters Without Borders found a considerable degree of diversity and plurality within both the print and broadcast media, which are all very outspoken.

Reporters Without Borders hails the desire to guarantee media freedom that has been demonstrated by both the transitional government and the new government that was elected at the start of this year.

The past year and a half has been marked by significant successes and achievements for media freedom. Reporters Without Borders found that both the state and privately-owned media conducted themselves in a very satisfactory manner during the elections. The achievements include the reopening of the Press Club, whose activities in support of journalists deserve praise, and the decriminalization of media offences, which protects journalists from prison sentences.

Many journalists and most media observers nonetheless acknowledge that there has unfortunately been a big increase in disparaging and defamatory articles since media offences were decriminalized in June 2010.