‘I am convinced female journalists are engaged in a collective fight’ – Samira Sabou
PICTURE: Samira Sabou (CPJ/courtesy of Abdoul Kader Nouhou)
Committee to Protect Journalists
This International Women’s Day, CPJ celebrates and highlights the bravery of women journalists who fight for the right to report the truth and keep the public informed despite being arrested, detained and subjected to years of legal harassment.
Today, we celebrate their vital contributions and reaffirm our commitment to defending their right to report freely.
Among these remarkable journalists is Samira Sabou, a leading investigative reporter in Niger and a 2024 CPJ International Press Freedom Award honoree. Samira has faced arrest, detention, and legal harassment for her coverage of public demonstrations.
In addition to her work championing press freedom, she advocates for freedom of expression and the rights of women and youth.
In 2020, while several months pregnant, Samira was imprisoned for 48 days for exposing alleged corruption within Niger’s Ministry of Defence. During her detention, she published articles revealing the poor conditions in the women’s cell block, which resulted in improvements such as three meals a day for prisoners and renovations to their sleeping areas.
‘On this International Women’s Day, I pay tribute to the transformative power of every female journalist, whose determination and resilience shape the contours of a world striving for more equality and justice,’ says Samira.
‘I am convinced that female journalists, alongside many others, are engaged in a collective fight. I salute their ability to balance demanding professional requirements with family and social obligations’
Samira is currently the President of the Association of Bloggers for Active Citizenship (ABCA). She is facing two legal cases as a result of her reporting, and has opted to publish exclusively on her Facebook account.
Samira’s struggles highlight the challenges faced by women journalists worldwide – those who remain steadfast in their mission to seek and share the truth.
Thank you for supporting press freedom and the journalists who make it possible.
- Quintal is the Regional Director, Africa of the CPJ
