NIGER: Niger shut down its airspace on Sunday until further notice, citing the regional West African bloc’s threat of military involvement after coup leaders refused a deadline to restore the country’s deposed president.
Earlier, thousands of junta backers went to a stadium in Niamey, the country’s capital, to applaud the group’s resolve to defy pressure from the outside world and refuse to resign by Sunday in the wake of the July 26 power grab.
The seventh coup in West and Central Africa in the past three years has shaken the Sahel region, one of the poorest places in the world. Due to its uranium and oil resources and its significance in the fight against Islamist militants, Niger holds great importance for the U.S., Europe, China, and Russia.
The defence chiefs of ECOWAS have developed a potential military action plan, specifying the timing and locations for strikes if President Mohamed Bazoum, currently detained, is not released and reinstated by the set deadline.
“Nigerien airspace is closed effective today”, a junta official announced on national television on Sunday night. “In the face of the threat of intervention, that is becoming more apparent,” the statement read.
He stated that there had been a pre-deployment of military forces in two nations in Central Africa in anticipation of an intervention, but he did not provide further information.
He said, “Niger’s armed forces and all our defence and security forces, backed by the unfailing support of our people, are ready to defend the integrity of our territory.”
Over the weekend, more than 100 junta supporters gathered near an air base in Niamey, playing military tunes and using vuvuzela horns as part of a citizen movement showing non-violent resistance in support of the junta if necessary.
Organisers led chants of “Vive Niger,” with much of the emotion seemingly aimed at ECOWAS and former colonial power France, which on Saturday stated it would back regional efforts to reverse the coup, but it didn’t clarify if military aid was included in the support.
“The Nigerien people have understood that these imperialists want to bring about our demise. And God willing, they will be the ones to suffer for it,” pensioner Amadou Adamou said.
Last Monday, Niger terminated military cooperation agreements with France, which has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops stationed there.
Sunday’s television programming featured a roundtable discussion on fostering unity in the face of ECOWAS sanctions, which have caused power outages and skyrocketing food costs.
The bloc’s military threat has raised concerns about escalating conflict in a region already grappling with a deadly Islamist insurgency, resulting in thousands of casualties and millions of displaced people.
Any potential military intervention could become complex due to promises from neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso juntas to support Niger if necessary.
Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, the prime minister of Bazoum, stated on Saturday in Paris that the overthrown government continued to hold out hope for a last-minute settlement.
Italy announced on Sunday that it has reduced its troop presence in Niger to accommodate Italian civilians who might require protection in the event of worsening security conditions.
Also Read: US Announces Partial Embassy Evacuation in Niger after Recent Coup
