Niger Closes Air Space Citing ‘Threat Of Intervention’

Niger shut down its airspace in response to the “threat of intervention” after the junta disregarded an order from the West African grouping ECOWAS to restore democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum or risk military intervention.

The generals must hand over control by Sunday at midnight (2300 GMT), according to the ultimatum given by ECOWAS a week ago.

On July 26, Bazoum was detained at the presidency by members of his guard, which led to his overthrow.

“Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday… for all aircraft until further notice,” the junta said in a statement released shortly before the deadline passed.

Any attempt to violate the country’s airspace would meet with an “energetic and immediate response”, the statement added.

Early Monday, there were no aircraft operating in Niger’s skies, according to the flight tracking website Flightradar24.

In a separate statement, the now-ruling National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) said there had been a “pre-deployment in preparation for intervention” made by two Central African countries, without naming them.

“Any state involved will be considered co-belligerent,” it warned.

Thousands of coup supporters had gathered Sunday in the capital Niamey to cheer on the CNSP.

At the 30,000-seat Seyni Kountche stadium, named after Niger’s first coup d’etat leader in 1974, CNSP leaders, including General Mohamed Toumba, greeted a jubilant crowd.

The venue was draped in Russian flags and supporters carried portraits of CNSP leaders.