Niger's military coup leaders have taken the unprecedented step of shutting down the country's airspace until further notice, citing concerns about potential military intervention from neighboring states. The move came after the Ecowas group of West African countries demanded the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday.
However, there has been no military response to the demand, and Ecowas has not issued any official statement on the matter. As a result of the escalating situation, France has issued a warning to its citizens against traveling to Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, countries that have shown support for the junta. In response to the escalating instability in the region, Air France has suspended all flights to the affected areas.
Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which are currently under military rule following recent coups, have pledged to send delegations to Niger to express solidarity with the junta. Flightradar24, a flight tracking service, displayed a transport plane's movement from Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, to Niger shortly after the closure of Niger's airspace.
Amid the rising tensions, France has urged its citizens to avoid travel to the Sahel region, and those already there are advised to exercise caution due to growing anti-France sentiments.
The junta in Niger claimed that it had intelligence indicating that a foreign power was preparing to attack the country after Ecowas military chiefs devised a detailed plan for possible intervention. Ecowas had set a deadline for the junta to step down and reinstate the elected president by 23:00 GMT on Sunday. Although the bloc had formulated plans for potential military action, it emphasized a preference for diplomatic solutions.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, the main regional power, faced domestic political opposition to intervention, with senators voting against military action. The possibility of intervention in Niger has also sparked protests from senators representing states near the shared border between Nigeria and Niger.
Italy and Germany have called for an extension of the deadline to reinstate President Bazoum, hoping for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
President Bazoum was overthrown on July 26, and General Abdourahmane Tchiani, commander of the presidential guard, declared himself the new leader. The coup has received widespread international condemnation from countries such as France, the European Union, the United Nations, and the United States. Many foreign nationals have been evacuated from Niger since the coup.
Despite mounting pressure, the coup leaders have shown no signs of relinquishing power. On Sunday, thousands of their supporters rallied defiantly at a stadium in the capital, Niamey.
Both Burkina Faso and Mali have warned that any outside military intervention in Niger would be seen as a declaration of war against them. While these countries are Ecowas members, they have been suspended from the bloc following their respective military takeovers.
Niger's significance as a major uranium producer, a crucial resource for nuclear power, and its previous role as a key ally in the fight against Islamist militants in the Sahel region have added further complexities to the situation.