The military junta in Niger Republic has closed the country’s airspace following the threat of military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as the ultimatum issued by the regional bloc to restore toppled President Mohamed Bazoum to power ended on Sunday.
ECOWAS, a regional political and economic union of 15 countries located in West Africa, had threatened to restore order in Niger by force.
ECOWAS had issued its ultimatum a week ago, and threatened the use of force if the coup plotters led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani failed to relinquish power by midnight of Sunday (2300 GMT) and reinstall Bazoum, who they toppled on July 26 when members of his own guard detained him at the presidency.
“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.
Reports yesterday indicated that there were no aircraft operating in Niger’s skies, according to the flight tracking website, Flightradar24.
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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 on 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.
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