Niger’s military rulers General Abdourahamane Tchiani announced on Sunday that Niger Republic had closed the country’s airspace, warning that any attempt to violate it would meet with an “energetic and immediate response.
“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 country’s new rulers said in a statement.
This announcement came as the deadline from the West African union ECOWAS for them to hand back power to the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was due to expire.
We will recall that ECOWAS last Sunday issued Niger’s new military rulers with an ultimatum to stand down and hand over power back to the democratic elected government within the week or face possible military intervention.
Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 when members of his own guard detained him at the presidency.
