Life returned to normal in Muslim-majority Niger on Friday, February 19, a day after a military coup that ousted president Mamadou Tandja.
"I hope the soldiers restore some order ... clean up the political environment," taxi driver Moussa Issa told Reuters.
"We need to start from scratch, without being compromised by the current political class which has been discredited over the last 20 years."
Troops stormed into the presidential palace on Thursday during a cabinet meeting and detained Tandja and his ministers.
At least three soldiers were killed during fierce gunbattles that accompanied the coup.
A watch tower at the palace in downtown Niamey was hit by a rocket while a gate was also damaged during the fighting.
Calling itself the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD), the junta immediately dissolved the government and suspended the Constitution.
"The defence and security forces have decided to take our responsibilities in ending the tense political situation," junta head squadron leader Salou Djibo said in a statement.
Niger has been embroiled in political crisis for nearly a year since Tandja, who was in power for more than a decade, changed the Constitution to remain in office.
A day after the coup, the capital city appeared calm Friday with people going about their business as normal.
Markets, banks and schools also opened as usual in the uranium-producing west African desert country.
Muslims make up 80 percent of Niger’s 15 million population, while the remaining are followers of Christianity and indigenous beliefs, according to CIA Fact Book.
Condemnation
Condemning the coup, world countries blamed the ousted president for the political crisis in the west African country.
“(The African Union) systematically condemns any unconstitutional change of government and consequently condemns the coup that took place in Niger," it said in a statement.
The pan-African body said the coup was part of the embroiling political crisis in the country.
It happened "in the context of the constitutional and political crisis in which Niger is embroiled."
Spain's ambassador to Niamey said that a coup had been inevitable given Tandja's tactics.
"While we didn't know when something like this would happen, it was clear that the military would intervene at some time or other," Maria Soledad Fuentes said on Spanish radio.
The US government also suggested that Tandja only had himself to blame.
"This is a difficult situation," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters, giving the first US reaction to the coup.
"President Tandja has been trying to extend his mandate in office. And obviously, that may well have been, you know, an act on his behalf that precipitated this act today."
Crowley, however, insisted that the US does "not in any way, shape or form defend violence of this nature.
"Clearly, we think this underscores that Niger needs to move ahead with the elections and the formation of a new government."
"I hope the soldiers restore some order ... clean up the political environment," taxi driver Moussa Issa told Reuters.
"We need to start from scratch, without being compromised by the current political class which has been discredited over the last 20 years."
Troops stormed into the presidential palace on Thursday during a cabinet meeting and detained Tandja and his ministers.
At least three soldiers were killed during fierce gunbattles that accompanied the coup.
A watch tower at the palace in downtown Niamey was hit by a rocket while a gate was also damaged during the fighting.
Calling itself the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD), the junta immediately dissolved the government and suspended the Constitution.
"The defence and security forces have decided to take our responsibilities in ending the tense political situation," junta head squadron leader Salou Djibo said in a statement.
Niger has been embroiled in political crisis for nearly a year since Tandja, who was in power for more than a decade, changed the Constitution to remain in office.
A day after the coup, the capital city appeared calm Friday with people going about their business as normal.
Markets, banks and schools also opened as usual in the uranium-producing west African desert country.
Muslims make up 80 percent of Niger’s 15 million population, while the remaining are followers of Christianity and indigenous beliefs, according to CIA Fact Book.
Condemnation
Condemning the coup, world countries blamed the ousted president for the political crisis in the west African country.
“(The African Union) systematically condemns any unconstitutional change of government and consequently condemns the coup that took place in Niger," it said in a statement.
The pan-African body said the coup was part of the embroiling political crisis in the country.
It happened "in the context of the constitutional and political crisis in which Niger is embroiled."
Spain's ambassador to Niamey said that a coup had been inevitable given Tandja's tactics.
"While we didn't know when something like this would happen, it was clear that the military would intervene at some time or other," Maria Soledad Fuentes said on Spanish radio.
The US government also suggested that Tandja only had himself to blame.
"This is a difficult situation," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters, giving the first US reaction to the coup.
"President Tandja has been trying to extend his mandate in office. And obviously, that may well have been, you know, an act on his behalf that precipitated this act today."
Crowley, however, insisted that the US does "not in any way, shape or form defend violence of this nature.
"Clearly, we think this underscores that Niger needs to move ahead with the elections and the formation of a new government."
