2023-08-07 05:26:48
Abroad West Africa
Ecowas ultimatum has expired – putschists in Niger close airspace
Status: 07:26 | Reading time: 4 minutes
Ecowas ultimatum expired – putschists close airspace over Niger
The military junta in Niger closes airspace over the West African country. The move is justified by a possible military intervention by the international community Ecowas: The association’s ultimatum for the ousted head of state Bazoum to return to office has expired.
At the end of the ultimatum of the West African Economic Community (Ecowas), the Nigerien putschists closed the airspace and spoke of a “danger of an intervention”. Any attempt to violate airspace will result in a “vigorous and immediate counter-reaction.” An overview.
At the end of an ultimatum by the Economic Community of West Africa (Ecowas) once morest the new military junta, Niger is closing, according to the putschists his airspace. The junta justified the “until further notice” step in a statement on Sunday evening with the “risk of intervention” made clearer by “preparations” in neighboring countries. The measure applies toall planes“. Any attempt to violate airspace will result in a “vigorous and immediate counter-reaction.” According to the flight tracking website Flightradar24, there were no planes in Niger’s airspace early Monday morning.
The self-proclaimed ruler of Niger, General Abdourahmane Tiani (right)
What: REUTERS
One midnight Local time (Monday, 1:00 a.m. CEST) ran one that was set a week ago Ultimatum of Ecowas to the coup plotters in order to allow Mohamed Bazoum, the Nigerien head of state who was ousted on July 26, to return to office. Otherwise be a “use of force” not be ruled out. It was initially unclear when the group of states wanted to decide on their further course of action and a possible military deployment.
Several of the 15 Ecowas states, including Senegal and Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), say they are willing soldiers to send. Resistance came from other states. In the neighboring Nigeria for example, the Senate urged the country’s president and current Ecowas chair, Bola Tinubu, to consider measures other than violence. According to observers, Tinubu is one driving force to be behind the tough course once morest the new military rulers in Niger. “Nigeria shares the longest common land border with Niger. Nigeria will bear the brunt of the impact,” said James Barnett, Sahel expert at think tank Hudson Institute. In the already unstable north of Nigeria, jihadists from Niger and the rest of the Sahel might link up with their Nigerian counterparts, he warns.
The other heads of government of the Ecowas states are also concerned regarding their own power and the security of their countries. After military coups in Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and now Niger “is [es] one coup too manysaid regarding Senegals Foreign Minister on Thursday.
Algeria and France once morest intervention
The assessment of the situation in Niger differs outside of Ecowas. Neighboring Algeria to the north categorically rejects military intervention in Niger. “Military intervention might throw the entire Sahel into turmoil, and Algeria will not use violence towards its neighbors,” Ennahar TV reported, citing an interview by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune with local media. Also the neighboring country Chad opposed an intervention.
The states also ruled by juntas following military coups Mali and Burkina Faso had warned that intervention by Ecowas would also be a declaration of war once morest them. The military junta in Guinea has signaled support. One block formation between the military juntas and the elected governments of West Africa threatens.
Also the former colonial power France and other western states had protested the coup. Niger is of strategic importance to the US, China, Europe and Russia because of its uranium and oil wealth and its central role in the fight once morest Islamist extremists in the Sahel.
Supporters gather in the stadium
Supporters of the putschists in a stadium in Niamey
What: REUTERS
There have already been several military interventions by Ecowas
Ecowas has already presented several times military intervention troops on. Last attacked these 2017 a, as Gambias long-term President Yahya Jammeh did not want to hand over his power to his challenger Adama Barrow following losing the election. In the 1990s Ecowas intervened in civil wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea–Bissau. However, military operations have so far always been carried out at the invitation of the government concerned. An Ecowas intervention in Niger would be the first operation carried out by the international community once morest the will of a government.
And unlike the intervention in tiny Gambia, Ecowas would face a major challenge in Niger. With around 26 million inhabitants, Niger is regarding three times the size of Germany. It is questionable how Ecowas might organize a military intervention logistically.
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