With the expiry of the ECOWAS deadline.. the military junta in Niger closes the airspace and accuses a superpower of preparing for aggression
Niger’s ruling military junta announced on Sunday evening the closure of airspace and accused a “foreign superpower” of preparing what it described as an aggression against its country. This comes with the end of the deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to intervene militarily to restore the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power.
military junta
Supporters of the military assembly in Niger
The newspaper “The Wall Street Journal” stated that the armies of the region needs more time to prepare before entering Niger. Earlier on Sunday, Niger’s coup leaders gathered tens of thousands of supporters in a sports stadium in Niamey’s capital. Several members of the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland, which was formed by the putschists and headed by General Omar Abd al-Rahman Tiani, participated in the demonstration.
The participants in the demonstration raised the flags of Niger and Russia. They chanted slogans in support of the military council and condemned the sanctions imposed by the ECOWAS group on their country. The demonstrators also chanted anti-French slogans. Several military leaders addressed the crowd, stressing that they will not back down from their decisions, and will work to achieve the people’s demands.
Since the coup that overthrew President Bazoum on July 26, demonstrations in support of the military council and against the French presence have been frequent.
Waiting in Niger
people in Niger are waiting as the deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States approaches for the military to return President Mohamed Bazoum to power. In the capital, Niamey, young people have formed “vigilant security committees” in anticipation of a possible military intervention. They set up traffic checkpoints and searched vehicles.
A military source in Niamey told Al Jazeera that the army would not back down. The coup leaders vowed to respond immediately to any foreign military intervention. The ECOWAS group sent the former President of Nigeria as a delegate to Niamey, but his mission came to nothing.
ECOWAS confirmed its readiness to carry out a military operation in Niger, but it faces regional positions opposing military intervention. The ousted president warned of the fall of the African Sahel region under Russian influence if the coup succeeded. The prime minister in the government of the detained president expressed his hope for a negotiated solution to the crisis in the country.
Reducing forces
The Italian government said it has reduced the number of its forces in Niger to provide space for civilians who may need protection. The Italian Ministry of Defense added that a military plane took off from Niamey and landed in Rome with Italian and American soldiers on board. More flights from Niger are planned in the coming days.
Italy had evacuated its citizens from Niamey, in addition to nationals of other countries. Despite the coup, the United States, France, and other Western countries still maintain their forces in Niger. And the French military presence in Niger became questionable after the coup.
The military council announced the cancellation of military agreements concluded with France. France has soldiers in Niger to counter the rebellion.
