Niger UPDATE: Junta suspends decree targeting foreign media

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The authorities in Niger suspended a June 3, 2010 Decree which the country’s media and civil society groups said would restrict information flow and gag foreign journalists.

Djibo Salou, Head of State of the Transitional Government announced the suspension of the Decree following widespread protests.

The new law had required foreign media outlets and their foreign journalists to seek clearance from the Ministry of Communication, New Technologies and Culture before filming documentaries in that country.

Article 6 of the Decree said: “…anyone applying for authorization to film documentaries and reports must, before entering Niger, be in possession of a copy of the authorization signed by the Minister of Communication”, also “henceforth, any foreign media outfit, production agency, associations or NGO’s that want to do documentaries or reports must pay for them”.