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https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/niger-coup/

On Friday (28 July) Gen. Abdourahmane Tchianithe, head of the presidential guard’s unit, declared himself Niger’s new leader.

Illia Djadi, an Open Doors expert originally from Niger, says that the coup will open the West African nation up to further attacks from Islamic extremists. He warns that it marks ‘a new era of uncertainty as radical groups will make the most of the insecurity’.

Very little is known about Niger’s new self-appointed president. The army general, who also goes by Omar Tchiani, was appointed the head of the presidential guards unit by former President Issoufouand, and is reportedly a close ally of the former African leader. On Friday, Tchiani appeared on state television to explain the reason for the coup, saying Niger needed to change course to avoid ‘the gradual and inevitable demise [of the country]’.

“A new era of uncertainty”

“I feel really sad,” says Illia. “This is an unexpected development. Niger has been a safe haven, an island of peace in a very unstable region.

“Even though the country is facing security challenges around its borders, it’s been the only country in the area which has been able to keep a level of security. There are thousands of refugees in Niger because they feel safe there.

“Niger is the key ally of Western countries in the fight against terrorism. When French troops were kicked out of other West African nations, they were deployed in Niger. Germany did the same. Now there is a new era of uncertainty.

“Niger is joining this group of countries run by the military. There is a kind of domino effect. Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Chad and now Niger. Who’s next? Any political instability can only benefit the Islamist groups. They will all try to benefit from the political instability.”

“It’s one coup after another”

According to the BBC, leaders from Ecowas, the bloc of West African nations, held crisis talks in Abuja, Nigeria on Sunday (30 July) to discuss the latest coup, following army takeovers in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso. A statement read out after the summit said that Ecowas had ‘zero tolerance’ for coups. The regional bloc would ‘take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order’ if its demands were not met within a week.

Illia says that what’s happened and continues to play out in other West African nations is ‘telling us a lot’.

“It’s exactly what happened in Mali,” he explains. “It all started in 2012 with the coup over the government’s handling of the Tuareg rebellion. Since then, the country has not recovered. They are still trying to fight against the Islamist jihadists. It’s one coup after another. Then the same thing happened in Burkina Faso. It’s one group trying to fix the other. This latest coup in Niger is really a huge set back and source of concern.

“Niger is a model of democratic achievement. The former president came into power two years ago. He did a lot of positive things to stabilise the country and to address the security issues. This will open the doors to insurgents. What will happen next? The army will have limited capacity to fight against the jihadists.”

PLEASE PRAY

• That God will pour out His peace on the church in Niger as they take in this situation, and protect them from harm
• For wisdom and strength for Open Doors partners as they discern how best to support Christians
• For a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
• For God to turn around this situation for multiplication of disciples across Niger