In 2015, Tchangari was arrested for his criticism of his government's response to Boko Haram Insurgents and the effect of insurgency on civilian population. His release was facilitated after support from international organizations, including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders.[5]
On December 3, 2024, Tchangari was arrested at his home in Niamey by plain-clothed officers. He was later charged with “criminal association in connection with a terrorist enterprise,” “undermining national defence,” and “intelligence with enemy powers.” These charges emerged following his public critiques of recent military governance policies and his advocacy against the repression of civic space.[6][1][2][7][8]
Tchangari remains imprisoned in Filingué, as of 2025.[9] Transparency International Niger and the Association for the Fight against Corruption (l’Association nigérienne de lutte contre la corruption, ANLC-TI) denounced his arrest and continued incarceration in April 2025 and called for his immediate release.[9]