Coup d'etat!

Hilary woke up Thursday morning not feeling well, so decided to cancel her surveys for the day, stay home, and rest. A bit before 1pm, a friend called us from the embassy and told us there were shots being fired near the presidential palace, and that we should stay home, turn on the radio, and wait for further news. We locked our gate, sat on the porch, and listened to gun shots and explosions in the distance. This went on for about an hour total, very intermittently. In between filling water bottles, searching for news on the radio, checking international news sites, we got text messages from friends all over the city telling us to stay home, that everyone was safe, and that something political was going down.

News trickled in, mostly from the internet and international sources, that the president had been taken by mid-level military officers, and the government had been overthrown. The national radio started playing military marching music (only military music), and that was the signal that the military had succeeded, and there had been a coup d’etat. Here are a few links of news stories so you can get more information: New York Times, BBC, and Washington Post.

From our perspective, things were relatively mundane. We cooked some food, checked lots of internet mail, called Nigerien and American friends for information, watched “Best of Show,” called our parents back home, talked to neighbors, and laid low. Last night was quiet on the streets, but this morning things seemed to be getting back to normal. Schools and shops are open today; we ventured out to our neighborhood bakery for some croissants and pain au chocolate, but for the most part are continuing to stay near the house and keep a low profile. It is still unclear who is the acting president at this time, so it is best to just stay inside for a bit while things are worked out.

It is really interesting to be here right now. It is the first time we have experienced something like this, something that you read about a lot, but never had the chance to witness firsthand. It is interesting to see how daily life happens in the midst of uncertainty, and how people who already have a rough time just make do with whatever situation they confront.