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Niger calm returns, ministry carries on in wake of coup

Niger's junta staged a coup on Thursday, February 18. Former Nigerian president, 71-year-old Mamadou Tandja, is under house arrest, reports MNN.

In spite of how it looks, this coup may be a step toward stability. Carl Moeller with Open Doors says it's the third one in 18 months. "There is hope that this coup led by moderate elements within the opposition party would actually, in fact, restore a larger degree of democracy over the long-term."

Tandja's move to change the constitution allowing him to remain in office indefinitely sparked wide unrest. Upon his removal, the junta leadership named an interim president, suspended the old constitution, and made plans to draw up a new one.

However, the military rulers provided no time frame for a handover. In the meantime, Niger's main opposition group has thanked Col Djibo for their intervention and called for free and fair elections.

Open Doors co-workers say calm has been restored in the capital, Niamey, and that the country's borders have now been re-opened. They also say they have been able to continue their work.

Moeller explains, "Niger is dominated by Islam. A tiny Christian minority exists there, many of whom are Muslim-background believers living on the fringes of society. That means they're the most marginalized within any sort of unrest. They're the ones who are going to be impacted the most."

Open Doors is going forward with meetings planned for the first week of March. Says Moeller, "We have seminars in places where Christians are under persecution, designed to help them learn how to deal with it and to be able to stand in the storm of persecution. Our prayer is that we'll be able to go ahead and hold this seminar."

2010 will be a strategic year for Open Doors. They have plans to present four Islam Awareness seminars to pastors and one presented to youth. Open Doors also plans to sensitize about 3,500 Christians on the realities of persecution while encouraging missions. Additionally, Open Doors plans to train 40 workers for missionary work in the field. There will also be socio-economic projects to help persecuted believers get back on their feet.

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TAGS: Niger Nigerian president Mamadou Tandja Open Doors democracy Christian minority persecution

[02/24/2010]

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