New episode in the deterioration of relations between Paris and Niamey: Niger’s airspace is now closed to French planes, and to them only. Niger’s airspace “is open to all national and international commercial flights with the exception of French planes or planes chartered by France, including those of the Air France fleet”, indicates a message to air crews published on the website of the Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (Asecna).
The airspace remains closed for “all operational military flights and special flights”, unless special authorization from the authorities, continues this message dated Saturday evening. Questioned by AFP, Air France simply indicated that it does not “fly over Niger airspace”. The French company, the main airline linking Europe and Africa, has also suspended its flights to Niamey since August 7 (4 flights per week), until further notice.
On September 4, Niger reopened its airspace for commercial flights after nearly a month of closure. Niger announced on August 6 its closure “in the face of the growing threat of intervention from neighboring countries”, while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened to intervene militarily to restore elected president Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown by a coup on July 26.
The military regime notably ordered at the end of August the expulsion of the French ambassador to Niamey, Sylvain Itté, and withdrew his diplomatic immunity and visa. But the latter is still stationed at the embassy and Paris refuses to recall him. Since the coup, France has repeated that it does not recognize the legitimacy of the soldiers who took power and that its interlocutor remains the elected president Mohamed Bazoum, held prisoner since July 26.