Coup: Niger Republic shuts air space, warns ECOWAS

Niger Republic’s General Abdourahamane Tchiani led junta on Sunday closed the country’s airspace as the deadline issued to them by ECOWAS to hand back power to the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was due to expire.

Nigeria’s led ECOWAS had last Sunday issued the military junta seven days’s ultimatum to hand over power to Bazoum or face possible military intervention.

The military junta had overthrown Bazoum on July 26. He is still being detained him at the presidency.

However, the junta announced the closure of the country’s airspace of Sunday.

It also warned that any attempt to violate it would meet with an “energetic and immediate response”.

“Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday… for all aircraft until further notice,” the country’s new rulers said in a statement.