2023-09-04 16:12:58
The military regime resulting from a coup d’etat in Niger decided to reopen, Monday, September 4, its airspace to commercial flights, closed since August 6, according to the Nigerian Press Agency (ANP, official).
“The airspace of the Republic of Niger is open to all national and international commercial flights,” said a spokesman for the Ministry of Transport quoted by the ANP, adding that ground services had also resumed.
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“The airspace still remains closed to all operational military flights and other special flights which are permitted only subject to prior authorizations from the competent authorities,” he added.
Continuation of ECOWAS sanctions
Niger had announced on August 6 the closure of its airspace “in the face of the threat of intervention which is becoming clearer from neighboring countries”, while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened to intervene militarily to restore the elected president Mohamed Bazoumoverthrown in a coup on July 26.
The land and air borders of Niger had been closed by the military the day following their takeover, then reopened with five border countries on August 2: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad. However, some flights with special authorizations were able to continue to serve the airport of Niamey, the country’s capital.
Niger continues to suffer from the sanctions imposed on the country by ECOWAS to bend the military in power.
The UN has warned that regional sanctions and border closures “are greatly affecting Niger’s supply of vital food and medical supplies”.
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