Mission co-worker evacuated from Niger on State Department recommendation

Coup in West African country prompts citizen withdrawal

by Scott O’Neill | Presbyterian News Service

Jim McGill

LOUISVILLE — A recent coup orchestrated by Niger’s military has prompted the U.S. State Department to issue a Level 4 (Do Not Travel) advisory to the West African country and order the departure of non-emergency government personnel and eligible family members. The department is willing to assist other U.S. citizens who desire to depart the country. Expected to be included in the evacuation is PC(USA) mission co-worker Jim McGill, who has served in Niger for the past several years. McGill boarded a State Department charter flight earlier today and will be flown to the United States.

On July 26, Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, was ousted from his position by the head of his presidential guard force, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, who promptly declared himself head of state. Before the coup, Niger was a pro-western ally of both the U.S. and France, but is surrounded by member states like Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, which have also fallen to military coups in the past few years. The Biden administration has called on the military rulers to release Bazoum and restore democracy.

The State Department notes that with ongoing efforts to overturn constitutional order, demonstrations and civil unrest could lead to increased crime, kidnappings and terrorist activity by extremists. The coup has already resulted in a violent demonstration outside the French embassy earlier this week.

McGill serves with the Evangelical Church in the Republic of Niger (EERN) to improve its water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). The EERN is the largest Protestant church in Niger. He recently penned an article in the Mission Crossroads magazine titled “Water is Life,” which amplified the importance of water in the mostly-desert country. He notes that having access to water leads to improvements in standards of living for a country with one of the lowest standards in the world.

In the article, McGill also shares his experience with the EERN-established “1 Evangelist/1 Well” program. Its goal is to provide access to safe water everywhere a pastor or evangelist is serving. Access to water allows the church to support its pastor independently through the year-round sale of produce grown in an irrigated garden. Funds also help maintain the irrigation system.

The Rev. Cheryl Barnes, the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Africa area coordinator, emphasized that safety is always the No. 1 priority for mission personnel serving overseas.

“When mission personnel are in service in a foreign country, their well-being is of primary importance. Although Jim has a strong commitment to the people of Niger and is dedicated to delivering water, sanitation and hygiene projects to communities in Niger, his evacuation was necessary to ensure his safety. We hope the disruption of his ministry in Niger is only temporary.”

Despite the tenuous political situation, McGill, who began his mission service in 1995 in Malawi, echoed Barnes’ thoughts and is optimistic a full-time return to Niger is imminent.

“Please pray for the people of Niger and the EERN during this troubled time,” said McGill. “Hopefully, things will be OK to return soon. There is some good stuff happening related to typhoid that is opening opportunities for the EERN.”

To learn more about Jim McGill’s work in Niger, visit his Mission Connections page.