Despite International Condemnation, Thousands Rally Behind Coup In Niger

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the Niger capital in a second day of demonstrations of support for Thursday’s military takeover. Opposition politicians and coup leaders addressed a rally celebrating the overthrow of President Mamadou Tandja and the dissolution of his government.

Niger has been suspended by the African Union, and the international community has been quick to condemn the coup.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned it and called for calm.

The new ruling military council – the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy – has announced the lifting of a curfew declared hours after the coup and the re-opening of borders.

Ten people are said to have died when the junta seized power.

The coup follows growing discontent with Mr Tandja following a controversial referendum last August to abolish limits on presidential terms of office, observers say.

A crowd put at 10,000 turned out on Saturday, with some people carrying signs in support of democracy and the army. Military leaders stood on top of trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns.

“We say thank you to the junta for their intervention,” an opposition spokesman, Bazoum Mohamed, told the rally.

“We are for the restoration of democracy and we are committed to joining the army in this mission.”

A military leader, Harouna Djibrilla Adamou, told the crowds: “We thank you for your overwhelming support.”

Troops stormed the presidential palace during a cabinet meeting on Thursday afternoon, seizing Mr Tandja and his ministers before announcing that they were suspending the constitution and dissolving all state institutions.

A junta spokesman, Col Goukoye Abdul Karimou, told the BBC on Friday that the president was “safe and well”.

We like to b*tch and moan about how difficult it is to create political change in this country, but imagine living in a country where blood is shed for political change? Coups and juntas have been taking place in countries all over the world for centuries — will the world ever be able to come to non-violent resolutions?

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