Coup causes stress for Niger ministry

Life has become challenging in Niger with inflation and food availability after the recent coup. (Photo by Dan Breen)

MADAOUA, NIGER—There is no question that the issues happening in Western Africa are complex. The recent coup in Niger highlights this. The democratically elected president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was overthrown by his own presidential guard on July 26. This coup will have ramifications that could potentially ignite a regional war, and it’s a troubling sign in the fight against Jihadist insurgency.

The coup d’etat has made daily life in Niger a challenge as well. Luke Society ministry director Assoumane Mahamadou, who lives in the country and operates his ministry in the city of Madaoua, has been having trouble finding food and other necessities. The neighboring countries of Benin and Nigeria have closed their borders. This has caused rapidly rising prices on the few goods which are available. As Assoumane states, “life has completely changed.”

The Luke Society has also been forming other partnerships in Niger. In the past year two visits have been made to evaluate new ministries which are also now impacted by the changes in Niger.

Please pray for the Lord’s will to be done in Niger. Pray for the people whose daily lives are impacted by rising costs and scarcity of food. Pray for an end to the threat of radical Jihadists. Pray that new Luke Society partnerships can be established and progress, and that Assoumane can continue to tell others about the Lord’s grace, mercy and presence in our broken world.

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