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Niger military officers who deposed President Mohamed Bazoum on
July 26 have defied calls from the United Nations, regional and
Western powers to reinstate him and gathered thousands of people
at rallies condemning the West and praising Russia.
Members of a small painting collective worked under the shade of
trees in a quiet corner of Niamey to make a portrait of coup
leader Abdouharamane Tiani on an outline of Niger, adding a
protester here, an inspirational quote there.
Artist Ali Garba said he and his colleagues wanted to play their
part in unifying the nation.
"All citizens must make their contribution," he said. "Without
social cohesion, there is no nation."
West African armies have threatened military action against the
new regime if it does not restore civilian rule, a prospect
portrayed as missiles dropping on a dark desert scene by
Boubacar Djiboby, who also painted tied hands breaking free.
There has been little public sign of resistance to the coup,
although a former rebel leader and politician announced a
movement to restore constitutional order last week.
(Writing by Cooper Inveen; editing by Edward McAllister and
Philippa Fletcher)
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