Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NIAMEY80
2007-01-26 11:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Niamey
Cable title:  

NIGER: TOLERANCE FOR EVANGELIST DR. RICHARD ROBERTS'

Tags:  SCUL KIRF PHUM KISL KWMN NG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9404
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0080 0261117
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261117Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3214
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS NIAMEY 000080 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL KIRF PHUM KISL KWMN NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: TOLERANCE FOR EVANGELIST DR. RICHARD ROBERTS'
JANUARY 24-27 "MIRACLE AND HEALING" CRUSADE

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000080

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL KIRF PHUM KISL KWMN NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: TOLERANCE FOR EVANGELIST DR. RICHARD ROBERTS'
JANUARY 24-27 "MIRACLE AND HEALING" CRUSADE


1. Summary. The Republic of Niger laid out the welcome mat
for the January 24-27 visit of Oral Roberts University (ORU)
President and Evangelist Dr. Richard Roberts and his
delegation. Print and broadcast media, notably "Le Sahel"
(government newspaper) and "Tele-Sahel" (the national news
station),covered the event, publicized as a "Miracle and
Healing" crusade, and reported on Roberts' audience with
President Tandja. Roberts also met with several Government of
Niger (GON) Cabinet Ministers and stopped by US Embassy Niamey
to pay a call on the Ambassador (AMB). The Embassy has not
learned of any reports of opposition to this high-profile Christian
event and has been struck by the star treatment granted to a
prominent Christian leader in this predominantly Muslim (95%)
nation, to include a siren police escort (usually reserved for
Heads of State or Government) to facilitate Roberts' travel around
town. End summary.


2. Dr. Roberts and a few delegation members (U.S. and local) met
with the AMB and Management Officer (MO) on the afternoon of January

24. He informed EmbOffs that Niger is one of forty countries he was
"called" to visit some thirty years ago. He mentioned having made
an emergency stop in Niger (Agadez region) in 2005, when his
chartered plane experienced engine trouble en route from Ghana to
London. The ORU delegation included university students (a choir)
to perform at the evening rallies and a team of medical doctors and
dentists to offer services and distribute pharmaceuticals at a
three-day medical clinic. Roberts also announced at the January 24
opening ceremony (attended by AMB and MO) that ORU would provide
full four-year scholarships (covering room and board, tuition, etc.)
for two Nigerien Christian students. Tele-Sahel, in addition to
airing coverage of Roberts' meeting with President Tandja, also
broadcast spot reports on the crusade's opening ceremony and the
next day's initial "healing and miracle" rally.


3. Roberts met, upon arrival in Niger, Minister of Interior and
Decentralization Mounkaila Modi, whose services provided the VIP
escort and security for the nightly rallies. Three of four Cabinet
Ministers, none of them male, apparently were tasked to attend the
crusade opening ceremony, as when Ambassador inquired of one
Minister whether she was attending the crusade as a Christian, that
Minister responded her attendance was related to religious
activities falling under her Ministry's jurisdiction. The four
Cabinet level attendees at the opening ceremony were Minister of
Population and Social Action Boukari Zila Mahamadou, Minister of
Privatization Gazobi Laouali Rahamou (a Christian pastor),Minister
of Labor Kanda Siptey and Minister of Women's Promotion and Child
Protection Ousmane Zeinabou Moulay. Other prominent personalities
in attendance at the opening ceremony were: First Lady Laraba
Tandja, the Governor of Niamey, and the senior Cabinet advisors for
the President and Prime Minister.


4. The crusade, with only one night remaining, has proceeded
peaceably. An Embassy local employee reported hearing on a national
television broadcast one young woman questioning a Muslim audience
in a local language (Zarma) why Nigeriens should be led astray by
some foreigner who promotes worship that is different from Allah's
way. We have not learned of any negative reactions, such as
protests to Roberts' visit.


5. EmbOffs have been struck by the level of accommodation provided
to the ORU delegation in this Muslim nation. Whether the Nigeriens'
hospitality to Evangelist Roberts and his entourage can be
attributed to interest in the humanitarian package of
doctors/dentists and medical supplies, general curiosity, an
assessment that Christian numbers in Niger are too inconsequential
to be concerned about a "Miracle and Healing" crusade, or the
Nigeriens' usual warm welcome for visitors, for the several
thousands who have attended nightly the Christian-sponsored event,
the bottom line is that religious tolerance has reigned.
ALLEN