Niger closes airspace over ‘threat of intervention’ as junta defies deadline

NIAMEY, Niger - Niger closed its airspace due to the “threat of intervention” as the junta defied a deadline from the West African bloc to reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum or face possible military action.

Early on Monday, there were no aircraft operating in Niger’s skies, according to the flight tracking website Flightradar24. Ecowas military chiefs of staff agreed on Friday on a plan for a possible intervention to respond to the crisis, the latest of several coups to hit Africa’s Sahel region since 2020.

Former colonial power France, with which Niger’s new rulers broke military ties after taking power, said it would “firmly” back whatever course of action Ecowas took after the deadline expired. “We’re going to fight for this revolution. We’re not going to retreat, faced with the enemy, we’re determined,” said Boukoki resident Adama Oumarou, adding that “we were waiting for this coup for a long time”.“We categorically refuse any military intervention,” Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said in a television interview on Saturday, saying it would be “a direct threat to Algeria” as it shares an almost 1,000km-long border with Niger.

Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world, relies heavily on foreign aid that could be pulled if Mr Bazoum is not reinstated as head of state, Paris has warned.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Opposition mounts in Nigeria over possible Niger interventionNigeria would play a leading role in any intervention threatened by the Ecowas regional bloc. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »

Nigeria's Oshoala poses biggest threat to England, says CarneyLONDON : England must beware of Nigeria striker Asisat Oshoala when they face the African nation for a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Brisbane on Monday, according to Karen Carney.The former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder who was capped 144 times by England, believes England have hit form
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

International student levy proposal in Australia criticised as threat to university reputationsThe international student sector in Australia is one of the country’s major exports and was worth AUS$21 billion (S$18.4 billion) in 2022. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »

Tan Kin Lian reiterates intention to 'influence government policies' if elected as presidentIn response to analysts who said Mr Tan's aim to 'influence policies' was unrealistic and misleading, the presidential hopeful said they were taking a 'narrow view'.
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Tan Kin Lian reiterates intention to 'influence government policies' if elected as PresidentSINGAPORE – Days after presidential hopeful Tan Kin Lian said he would help shape government policies if he was elected – a view analysts have described as unrealistic and misleading – Mr Tan has again spoken on the issue.
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Ex-vice-president Pence doesn’t rule out appearing as witness for Trump’s prosecutionTrump is facing charges of orchestrating a criminal conspiracy to try to reverse his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »