Supporters of the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland of Niger demonstrate in front of the Nigerian and French air base in Niamey on September 2, 2023 to demand the withdrawal of the French army from Niger. – / AFP
According to the official Niger Press Agency (ANP), following a coup in Niger on Monday, September 4, the military regime has decided to reopen its airspace, closed since August 6, to domestic and international commercial flights.
Ground traffic has also resumed, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Transport quoted by the ANP. “The airspace remains closed to all operational military flights and other special flights, which may only be authorized with prior approval from the relevant authorities,” he added.
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Niger announced on August 6 the closure of its airspace “in view of the increasingly clear threat of intervention from neighboring countries,” while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened to “intervene militarily to restore elected President Mohamed Bazoum.” , overthrown in a coup on July 26th.
Niger’s land and air borders were closed by the military the day after the takeover and reopened on August 2 with five border countries: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad. However, certain flights were still able to fly to Niamey Airport, the country’s capital, with special permits.
Niger continues to suffer from the sanctions imposed on the country by ECOWAS to force the military in power to give in. The UN warned that regional sanctions and border closures are “severely impacting Niger’s supply of essential food and medical supplies.”
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