Niger closed its airspace on Sunday until further notice, citing the threat of military intervention from the West African regional bloc, after leaders of its recent coup rejected a deadline to reinstate the country’s ousted president.
Data shown in an animation from flight tracking website flightradar24.com showed that no aircraft were flying over Niger after the announcement.
The junta’s military spokesperson on Sunday claimed that the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, together with “a foreign power” and “armed terrorist groups” was preparing to attack Niger.
“Despite the disapproval of the people of Niger and of ECOWAS of any military intervention in Niger, the planning of this war has been carried out. Pre-deployment of forces to take part in this war has begun in two Central African countries.”
He added any attempt to violate its national airspace will be met with “an energetic and instantaneous response”.
Defense chiefs of ECOWAS previously agreed on military action, including when and where to strike, if Niger’s detained President Mohamed Bazoum, was not released and reinstated by Sunday.
The bloc’s military threat has triggered fears of further conflict in the region.
The possible intervention could also be complicated – as juntas in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso vowed to back the Nigerien coup.
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