The military that seized power in Niger at the end of July closed the airspace until further notice on Sunday, citing the threat of intervention by the Armies of countries in the region, as an ultimatum by a regional body to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum expired at midnight.

In the face of the threat of intervention by neighboring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed as of today until further notice, said a statement from the military junta, declaring that any attempt to violate the airspace will be met with an active and immediate response.

The announcement was made shortly before the expiration of the ultimatum addressed on July 30 by the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO in French, ECOWAS in English) to the military coup plotters, demanding that they reinstate President Bazum and threatening that otherwise they would proceed with military intervention.

In a separate statement, the National Council of National Salvation (NSS/junta) said that it had recorded that a preliminary deployment of troops had taken place in preparation for the intervention in two central African countries, without clarifying which ones. However, it warned that any state involved in the preparation of the intervention would be considered a warring party.

Niger’s land and air borders with its five neighboring countries (Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, and Chad) were reopened on August 2, almost a week after they were closed following the July 26 military coup.

Yesterday afternoon, some 30,000 coup supporters, many of them waving the flags of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Russia, took part in a rally-show of force at the country’s largest stadium in the capital Niamey.

With information from: APA MPA

Also read: Niger | Sanctions and ultimatum to coup plotters from ECOWAS