Heightened Tensions in West Africa: ECOWAS Ultimatum, Threat of Intervention, and Niger’s airspace closure

2023-08-07 01:06:52

TENSIONS

Updated on 07/08/23 at 03:06

The ECOWAS ultimatum against the junta, which took power on July 26, came to an end at midnight on Sunday

Tension is at its height in West Africa. THE Niger closed Sunday “until further notice” its airspace “in the face of the threat of intervention which is becoming clearer”, shortly before the end of the ultimatum of the ECOWAS enjoining the soldiers who took power in Niamey to restore the overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum under pain of the use of “force”.

In a press release, the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP), which took power on July 26specifies that “any attempt to violate the airspace” will lead to “an energetic and instantaneous response”.

Junta supporters wave Russian flags

The CNSP also affirms that a “pre-deployment for the preparation of the intervention was made in two countries of Central Africa”, without specifying which ones. “Any state involved will be considered co-belligerent,” he adds.

The ultimatum of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) expired Sunday at midnight. In the afternoon, some 30,000 coup supporters, many waving flags of Niger, Burkina Faso and Russia, engaged in a show of force in Niger’s largest stadium in Niamey.

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