Human rights defender Mr Marou Amadou has been detained by the Forces Nationales d'Intervention et de Sécurité – FNIS (National Intervention and Security Forces ) on 11 August 2009 after being discharged by Niamey's Tribunal de grande instance – TGI (Court of first instance). New charges have been brought against him and he is currently being held in the Koutoukalé high security prison, 48 km from Niamey.

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Marou Amadou is the president of the Front uni pour la sauvegarde des acquis démocratiques – FUSAD (United Front for the Safeguard of Democratic Gains), member of the national board of the Réseau des Organisations pour la Transparence et l’Analyse Budgétaire – ROTAB (Network of Organizations for Transparency and Budget Analysis), coordinator of the Comité de réflexion et d’orientation indépendant pour la sauvegarde des acquis démocratiques – CROISADE (Independent Advisory and Orientation Committee for the Defence of Democratic Gains) and he represents civil society within the Commission électorale nationale indépendante – CENI (National Independent Electoral Commission).

On 10 August 2009, Marou Amadou was detained by the Judicial Police, accused of “offence against the security of the State”, and put in the civil prison of Niamey.

On 11 August 2009, he appeared before the TGI and was subsequently discharged due to procedural irregularities. At approximately 16.00 pm the same day, while waiting for all necessary formalities for his release to be completed, two vehicles belonging to the FNIS arrived at the civil prison and took him away without showing any warrant or explaining where he was being taken.

His whereabouts were unknown until the next day when his colleagues and relatives learned that he was being held by the Judicial Police. He was prevented from receiving visits until 13 August and only his lawyer has been allowed to see him.

On 9 August 2009, Marou Amadou, read a public declaration, released by FUSAD on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Consitution of Niger, denouncing the corruption of President Tandja Mamadou's government as well as the illegality of the government sponsored referendum that took place on 4 August 2009.

Within the declaration he referred to the fact that the Constitutional Court had declared the referendum illegal on 12 June 2009.

On 29 June 2009, during a television broadcast by channel Dounia, Marou Amadou mentioned a declaration issued by the Front de défense de la démocratie – FDD (Front for the Defence of Democracy) in which the army was asked to respect article 13 of the Constitution of Niger which states that “no one shall be obliged to carry out an obviously illegal order.”

The same day, Marou Amadou was detained by Nigerian police in Niamey and kept in the Judicial Police premises.

On 30 June 2009 he was accused of “provoking disobedience towards the defence and security forces,” “plotting against the authority of the State” and “undertaking to demoralize the armed forces” according to articles 76, 78 and 79 of the Criminal Code - charges which can carry the penalty of capital punishment.

He was also accused of “flagrant press offences.” On 2 July he was released but all charges remained pending against him. Front Line remains concerned that he is being held in custody while these charges are being prepared.