Fear of outside intervention following the coup had prompted Niger to close its airspace. A month after this decision, the military regime decided to reopen it to commercial flights on Monday, according to the Niger News Agency (ANP). “The airspace still remains closed to all operational military flights and other special flights which are only authorized subject to prior authorization from the competent authorities”, said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport quoted by the ANP, adding that ground services had also resumed.
Niger announced on August 6 the closure of its airspace “in the face of the threat of intervention which is becoming clearer from neighboring countries”, while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened to to intervene militarily to restore the elected president Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown by a coup d’etat on July 26.
Open borders with five neighboring countries
The land and air borders of Niger had been closed by the military the day after their takeover, then reopened with five border countries on August 2, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad. However, some flights with special authorizations were able to continue to serve the airport of Niamey, the country’s capital.
Niger continues to suffer from the sanctions imposed on the country by ECOWAS to make the military bend to power. The UN has warned that regional sanctions and border closures “are greatly affecting Niger’s supply of vital food and medical supplies”.