Prayers for Peace in Niger as Foreign Pressures, Military Intervention Threats Grow
(AWP) - Thousands of people of Niger prayed for peace at one of the largest mosques in the Nigerien capital Niamey as foreign pressures have been mounting to secure the release of elected President Mohamed Bazoum and end one of the most serious of crises in West Africa during the past years.
Male and female worshippers’ faces were haunted by anxiety at a mosque that bears the name of the late Libyan leader in Niamey as some of them said they were gathered for peace in a situation, as one put it, “requires great bravery.”
“We are here at the Grand Mosque of Muammar Gaddafi to do the Friday prayers. We are praying for the people of Niger and for peace. Niger is facing a crisis in which the people are needed to show huge courage. Let us seize this opportunity to call on those who caused this crisis to go away. They are the French,” said Hassan Issa Hamza in statements to the Arab World Press (AWP) outside the mosque.
“We are not afraid. We are ready to fight and defend our lands in the hope of a better future,” he emphasized.
For his part, Marima Hamidou spoke of “bad things happening,” saying it would be good to stick to the preachers to get the blessings of peace.
“Everything is not fine in Niger … We hope God would defend our country. We condemn anyone who undermine our country and pray to God that their schemes fail,” she said.
Weeks have passed since the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) armies alliance has announced an agreement to deal a strike to “bring Bazoum back to power he had been ousted from on July 26,” and still the two sides are in negotiation in an attempt to reach a peaceful solution.
On Friday, Niger’s current authorities asked the French ambassador to leave the West African country.
Since the July 30 coup d’etat, Niger has come under strict financial and trade sanctions imposed by the ECOWAS. The coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani rejected the threats made by ECOWAS and pledged “tough resistance” against any military intervention.