Niger’s coup leaders have closed the country’s airspace until further notice, citing the threat of military intervention from their neighbours. Flight tracking website Flightradar24 is showing that there are currently no aircraft in Niger’s skies. The West African group of countries, Ecowas, had earlier warned it could use force if President Mohamed Bazoum was not reinstated by 23:00 GMT on Sunday.
A junta spokesman says Niger’s armed forces are ready to defend the country. Mr Bazoum was detained on 26 July, and Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, commander of the presidential guard, later proclaimed himself the new leader. The military takeover has been internationally condemned, including by former colonial power France and the rest of the European Union, as well as the United Nations and the United States.
Reading a statement on national television on Sunday, the representative from Niger’s junta said they had information that “a foreign power” was preparing to attack Niger. After a crisis meeting in Nigeria, Ecowas military chiefs said on Friday they had drawn up a detailed plan for the possible use of force.”All the elements that will go into any eventual intervention have been worked out here, including the resources needed, the how and when we are going deploy the force,” said Abdel-Fatau Musah, Ecowas commissioner for political affairs, peace and security.
And he added: “We want diplomacy to work, and we want this message clearly transmitted to them [Niger’s junta] that we are giving them every opportunity to reverse what they have done”.Ecowas is a regional trading bloc of 15 West African countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and Ghana. The coup leaders seem to be showing no sign of willingness to cede power, and on Sunday thousands of their supporters rallied defiantly at a stadium in Niger’s capital Niamey.
Two of Niger’s neighbours – Burkina Faso and Mali – earlier warned they would treat any outside military intervention in Niger as “a declaration of war” against them. Burkina Faso and Mali are both Ecowas members but have been suspended from the bloc since being taken over by the military. Niger is a significant uranium producer – a fuel that is vital for nuclear power – and under Mr Bazoum was a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants in West Africa’s Sahel region.
Follow us on:
President Bola Tinubu on Friday declared that his purpose for seeking the nation's number one…
Kano state government is partnering Tony Blair Institute for Global Change to attract $23.5 million…
Nigeria's federal government has said it is currently reviewing the nation’s legal frameworks, among other…
The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and the Port Harcourt International Airport have been recognised…
https://cdn.veri.app/13646108-d5ec-478b-a54c-b01f60dbca29.mp4 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu On Thursday directed Vice President, Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s…
The United Sates (US) Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed her willingness to use her…
View Comments
👇👇👇👇O7O 4540 6674 }Golf 3, 4, 5 N350,000 to N550,000 Toyota Camry big daddy N750,000 to 3.5 Toyota Camry tiny light N500,000 to 1.7 Land Cruiser jeep 950,000 to 4.7 Toyota matrix N650,000 to 1.9 Lexus RX 350 ,950,000 to 15 million Lexus RX 330 750,000 to 7.7 Toyota Prado jeep N950,000 to 8.5 Toyota Hiace Bus N950,000 to 15 million Toyota Avalon N950,000 to 4.5 million Toyota corolla N750,000 to 4.5 million Mazda 626 N650,000 to 1.8 Peugeot 406 N700,000 to 3 million Peugeot 207 N750,000 to 4 million Honda accord E.O.D N750,000 to 3 million Honda Evil Spirit N7500,000 to 2.5 Toyota Avensis N850,000 to 4.5 Toyota RAV4 N850,000 to 7.5 Toyota Seinna N850,000 to 3.5 Toyota Highlander N900,000 to 10.5 million Toyota Yaris N550,000 to 1.5 million Nissan Murano N750,000 to 5 million Nissan Pathfinder N800,000 to 4.5 Infiniti FX35 N750,000 to 7 million Infiniti FX45 N850,000 to 8.8 AND MANY OF THE CARS ARE NOT LISTED HEREO7O 4540 6674 }