The soldiers who seized power in Niger announced on Sunday the closure of the country’s airspace “in view of the threat of intervention”, warning that any attempt to violate it would have a “strong and immediate response”.
“Given the threat of intervention, which is made clearer by the preparation of neighboring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this Sunday (…) for all aircraft until further notice,” they said in a statement, where they It specifies that “any attempt to violate airspace” will entail “an energetic and immediate response.”
The Nigerien armed forces, backed by the unwavering support of our people, are ready to defend the integrity of our territory.
The announcement came a few minutes after the expiration of the ultimatum given by the Economic Community of West African States (Cedeao) to the military to return power to the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
bazoum said in an opinion piece published last week that he was a hostage and asked USA and to the international community to restore constitutional order.
The cedeao gave a week ago to the military coup leaders grouped in the self-styled National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP), a period of seven days for them to withdraw or face a possible military intervention.
The military commanders of the cedeao set Friday in abuja (Nigeria) a plan for a possible “military intervention” to reverse the coup.
France supported the efforts of the cedeao and warned that the decision of the junta to denounce the defense agreements with the ex-colonial power “weakens the fight against terrorism” jihadist that acts in the region of the sahel.
There is quite an extraordinary alignment of the West and Africa… to condemn what is happeningFrench Minister for European Affairs
For its part, the board withdrew last Thursday from the cooperation agreements in the field of security and defense with Francewhich has in Niger of a military contingent of 1,500 soldiers for the anti-jihadist fight.
Italy and Algeria rule out force
The Foreign Minister of Italy, Antonio Tajanisaid in an interview published this Monday that the cedeao should extend its deadline for the restitution of bazoum.
“The only way is diplomatic. I hope that the ECOWAS ultimatum, which expired last night at midnight, will be extended today,” he said. tajani to the daily The stamp.
It is right for him (Bazoum) to be released, but we cannot do it. The US is very cautious about it, it is unthinkable that they start a military intervention in NigerMinister of Foreign Affairs
Without referring to a possible military intervention, the Secretary of State for USA, Anthony Blinkencalled on Friday for “the immediate restoration of the democratically elected government of Niger” and said that Washington would stop certain foreign assistance programs that benefit the government of Niger.
risk of escalation
Unity and regional stability is in suspense due to the promise of the ruling military juntas in the neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso to come out in defense of Niger noting that any intervention would be considered as “a declaration of war” against them.
While various armies of the West African bloc, such as that of Senegal and Ivory Coastthey said they were ready to send soldiers, the Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune rejected the idea of a military intervention as being “a direct threat to Algeria», and emphasized that his country «will not use force against its neighbors».
