2023-08-06 21:44:00
ECOWAS had given until Sunday to the putschists to restore the president of Niger to his functions, under penalty of a military intervention. The military decided to close their airspace in response to this “threat”.
The putschists do not seem to want to give in. Niger announced on Sunday the closure of its airspace “in the face of the threat of intervention which is becoming clearer from neighboring countries”, announced the soldiers who took power in Niamey.
“Faced with the threat of intervention which is becoming clearer from neighboring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday (…) until further notice”, indicates the press release which specifies that “any attempt to violate the airspace” will lead to “a vigorous and instantaneous response”.
A pre-deployment carried out, according to the junta
In another press release, the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP, which took power) affirms that a “pre-deployment for the preparation of the intervention has been made in two countries of Central Africa”, without specifying which. “Any state involved will be considered co-belligerent,” he adds.
Niger’s land and air borders with five neighboring countries were reopened on August 2, nearly a week after they were closed during the July 26 coup that overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
An ultimatum from ECOWAS
On July 30, shortly after the coup that overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum, the West African bloc formed by ECOWAS had given the junta seven days, i.e. until Sunday evening, to restore it to its functions. While claiming to favor the diplomatic route, they had indicated that in the event of failure of the negotiations, the use of force was not to be excluded.
On Friday, the chiefs of staff of the Economic Community of West African States “defined the contours of a” possible military intervention “against the Nigerien junta, according to an official of the regional organization. And some armies like Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire have said they are ready to participate.
The military have the support of Mali and Burkina Faso
The coup was condemned by all of Niger’s Western and African partners, but the Nigerien military received support from their counterparts in Mali and Burkina Faso – who also came to power through putsches in 2020 and 2022 – who claim that an intervention in Niger would be a “declaration of war” on their two countries.
Some 30,000 supporters of the coup d’etat in Niger gathered in Niamey on Sunday to support the putschists a few hours before the end of the West African ultimatum.
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