Niger: Grand Mosque of Niamey

The Grand Mosque of Niamey is by far the most beautiful building in Niger. It was built by Moamar Kaddafi in 1970. (From traveling across the north and central Africa, it looks like Kaddafi really did a lot to share the Lybian oil wealth and was widely adored in many countries by people…. until the US got involved and helped get him slaughtered to the chagrin of Hillary Clinton). The mosque is a spectacular building with a tall minaret that has 171 steps to the top. There was no problem entering the mosque and see the elaborate mosaics, wood carvings, chandeliers, windows and the dome, and one of the keepers even was happy to show everything (for a nominal donation).