Niger: Putschists close airspace due to ‘threat of intervention that is becoming more apparent’

The authors of the coup that toppled the government of Niger on July 26 decided on Sunday to close the country’s airspace in the face of “the threat of intervention that is becoming more and more obvious.”

“Faced with the threat of intervention that is becoming increasingly apparent from neighboring countries, Nigerian airspace is closed from today Sunday (…) until further notice,” the military press release said, which clarified that “any attempt to violate airspace” will lead to “decisive and immediate response”.

The announcement was made on the day the ultimatum issued by ECOWAS on July 30 to the soldiers who took power to reinstate ousted President Mohammed Bazum in his duties expires. The ultimatum expires on Sunday evening, and so far the generals who took power on July 26 in Niamey show no desire to concede.

» More information coming soon