Niger’s mutinous troopers have closed the nation’s airspace and accused international powers of getting ready an assault, because the junta defied a deadline to revive the ousted president and stated any try and fly over the nation shall be met with “an brisk a…
BySAM MEDNICK Related Press
Supporters of Niger’s ruling junta maintain a Russian flag in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. Nigeriens are bracing for a potential army intervention as time’s run out for its new junta leaders to reinstate the nation’s ousted president. (AP Picture/Sam Mednick)
The Related Press
NIAMEY, Niger — Niger’s mutinous troopers closed the nation’s airspace and accused international powers of getting ready an assault, because the junta defied a deadline to revive the ousted president and stated any try and fly over the nation shall be met with “an brisk and rapid response.”
Niger’s state tv introduced the transfer Sunday night time, hours earlier than West African regional bloc ECOWAS had demanded that the coup leaders reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face army drive.
A spokesman for the coup leaders, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, warned of “the specter of intervention being ready in a neighbouring nation” and stated Niger’s airspace is closed till additional discover. The junta asserted that two central African nations have joined preparations for an invasion, however didn’t say which of them, and known as on the nation’s inhabitants to defend it.
It was not instantly clear what ECOWAS will do now that the deadline has handed.
1000’s of individuals in Niger’s capital, Niamey, attended a stadium rally with coup leaders on Sunday.
Niger had been seen by america, France and different companions as their final main counterterrorism accomplice within the huge Sahel area, south of the Sahara Desert, the place teams linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic Group state have been increasing their vary.
The way forward for some 1,500 French army personnel and 1,100 U.S. army personnel in Niger is just not instantly identified, although the junta leaders have severed safety preparations with Paris.