Military rebels in Niger closed the sky of the country

Military rebels who seized power in Niger through a coup d'état closed the country's airspace due to the possibility of military intervention by West African states in the situation. On the evening of August 6, a representative of the military junta on national television said that the ban on flights over Niger applies to all aircraft and is valid “until the next warning”.

According to him, such a measure was caused by threats of interference from neighboring countries, which are increasingly clearly observed.

” Any attempt to disrupt Niger's airspace will receive a strong and immediate response, " the statement said.

On the morning of 6 August, thousands of protesters gathered at a stadium in Niamey, the capital of Niger, to show their support for the military in power.

West African states preparing to invade Niger

Earlier it was reported that the commanders of the Armed Forces of the member states of the economic community of West African States (ECOWAS) were preparing for a possible invasion of Niger in response to the rebellion. A three-day meeting of the leaders of the Allied Powers was held in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. In it, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu urged the country's Senate to approve an armed invasion measure in Niger.

Ultimatum to the rebels

The ECOWAS states issued an ultimatum to the insurgency in Niger on 30 July, calling for the restoration of the constitutional order within a week. They threatened various measures, including the use of force, in case the request was denied. On August 6, the deadline expired, but the demands were not met.

The Niger military junta carried out an important personnel exchange in the armed forces against the background of the ECOWAS threats. Appointed reliable persons to important positions in land forces and aviation.