Story: Niger’s junta leaders have taken drastic measures in response to the threat of military intervention from neighboring countries. The country’s airspace has been closed indefinitely, leaving the skies empty as Flight tracking website Flightradar24 indicates. This move comes after the West African group of countries, Ecowas, issued an ultimatum, demanding the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum by midnight local time on Sunday.
President Bazoum was detained on July 26, and General Abdourahmane Tchiani declared himself the new leader. The military takeover has been met with widespread condemnation from the international community, including France, the European Union, the United Nations, and the United States.
Niger’s junta claims they have information of a potential foreign attack on the country, prompting them to take preemptive action by shutting down the airspace. Ecowas had previously warned of possible military intervention if the coup leaders did not step down.
The situation remains tense as Niger’s neighbors, Burkina Faso and Mali, have warned that any outside military intervention in Niger would be considered “a declaration of war” against them. Both countries are Ecowas members but have been suspended from the bloc due to being governed by military juntas.
In the midst of this crisis, thousands of junta supporters rallied defiantly in Niger’s capital, Niamey, showing no signs of yielding to pressure to relinquish power. Niger, being a significant uranium producer and a crucial ally in the fight against Islamist militants in the Sahel region, finds itself at the center of attention and concern for the stability of the West African region.
The international community anxiously watches the unfolding events in Niger, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. However, with the airspace closed and tensions escalating, the situation remains uncertain, and diplomatic efforts are underway to find a resolution to the political turmoil.
