On Sunday, the military-controlled government of Niger announced the shutdown of its airspace and warned that any violations would be greeted with a “energetic and immediate response.”
“Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighboring countries,” the military authorities declared in a statement made public on Sunday. “Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday for all aircraft until further notice.”
A deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the military rulers to hand over power to President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected democratically, has passed.
The new military authorities in Niger had been given a week to withdraw their forces or risk military intervention from ECOWAS.
The new military authorities in Niger had been given a week to withdraw their forces or risk military intervention from ECOWAS.
Bazoum was arrested at the presidency on July 26 and then expelled by members of his own guard.
Due to pressure from ECOWAS on the new leaders to reinstate democracy, the current situation has heightened tensions in the region.
In a similar incident, the presidents of ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) met on Sunday after the Niger junta’s deadline to restore President Mohamed Bazoum to office had passed.
There have been rumors that the meeting was online.
President Bola Tinubu, the head of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, convened the meeting as part of consultations on the situation in Niger.
