Niger Closes Airspace Due To “Intervention Threat”

An “energetic and immediate response” would be given to any attempt to violate the country’s closed airspace, Niger’s military authorities warned in a statement released on Sunday.

Niger’s airspace is blocked to all aircraft as of this Sunday until further notice because to the possibility of intervention, which is becoming more apparent due to neighboring nations’ preparations, the country’s new leaders announced in a statement.

The announcement was made as the West African bloc ECOWAS was about to expire with its deadline for them to restore power to the duly elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

Last Sunday, ECOWAS gave Niger’s new military authorities a week to withdraw or risk potential military involvement.

When members of his own guard detained Bazoum at the presidency on July 26, he was toppled.