In a significant step toward improving Niger’s justice system, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights has officially launched the strategy document “People-Centered Justice in Niger: Proposal of Strategic Pathways from the Multi-Stakeholder Consultation” in Niamey on 16 April 2025. The strategy is the outcome of over a year of collaboration between various justice leaders in the country (the stakeholder team) composed of government institutions, civil society, legal professionals and traditional leaders, facilitated by HiiL through its Justice Innovation Program in Niger (PIJN).
The proposed strategy offers a roadmap to help prevent or resolve Nigeriens’ most pressing justice problems through practical, inclusive solutions that would lead to positive outcomes for them like reducing costs, reducing stress and making justice more accessible. Rooted in HiiL’s 2021 Justice Needs and Satisfaction Survey which surveyed more than 6000 Nigeriens about their most common legal problems, the stakeholder team identified three main challenges that affect Nigerien’s daily life: crimes and minor offenses like phone theft, land disputes and difficulties obtaining administrative documents, often marked by costly delays.
The proposed strategy aims to address these problems and includes a plan for secure and anonymous reporting systems for victims of crime, the activation of a rural land registry alongside strengthening the capacity of traditional authorities to resolve land disputes fairly and efficiently and, finally, it proposes the digitalization of administrative services.
Speaking at the launch, the Secretart General of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights Mrs Abdourahamane Amina Moussa praised the collaborative nature of the process and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to change:
This document… is based on a participatory approach that mobilized key stakeholders in the judicial ecosystem… It constitutes a roadmap for the implementation of concrete solutions over the next three years. The strategic priorities identified include the management of crimes and offenses, land issues, and the obtaining of administrative documents.
She added: “Our ministerial department… looks forward to achieving results that matter for the daily justice problems that citizens face. It is crucial that justice stakeholders take ownership of these initiatives and fully assume their role in improving the judicial system.”
The launch event also featured remarks from the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior and a representative from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which funds the Justice Innovation Program in Niger.. Their continued support has enabled the initiative to cover all eight regions of the country and to foster a justice system that is more responsive to the needs of citizens.
The strategy reflects Niger’s broader national and international commitments to justice reform, including its membership in the global Justice Action Coalition which brings together Governments and organizations committed to people-centred justice. It aligns closely with the country’s Three-Year Priority Action Plan (2024–2026) to modernize the justice sector.
The launch will be followed by a two-day Forum on the Role of Traditional Authorities (Chefferie Traditionelle) in the Judicial System on 17–18 April. With traditional leaders resolving around 30% of justice problems—particularly in rural areas—the forum will bring together chieftaincy representatives, magistrates and civil society to explore how informal and formal justice systems can collaborate more effectively.
Participants aim to develop concrete, actionable recommendations to improve coordination. These insights will inform a webinar for international audiences on 21 May ‘’Harmonising Informal and Formal Justice Systems in the Sahel: Lessons from Niger and Burkina Faso’’. Details and registration for this webinar will be available soon.
