“In the face of the threat of intervention, which is becoming increasingly apparent through the preparations of neighboring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed as of this day, Sunday,” the junta announced in a statement.
They warn that any attempt to breach it will be met with a “forceful and immediate response”.
At midnight local time, the deadline given by Ecowas, the West African Economic Cooperation Organization, to the junta in Niger to restore civilian rule and release President Mohamed Bazoum expired.
The popularly elected president has been imprisoned in his residence since the military coup on July 26.
Agree on a plan
Ecowa’s military chiefs of staff have agreed on a plan for a possible intervention to respond to the military coup, the latest of several to hit the Sahel region since 2020.
But the coup plotters in Niger show no sign of giving up and have vowed to respond immediately to any military intervention.
What happens now, after the deadline has expired, is unclear.
While Ecowas has not ruled out military intervention, two member states that are also ruled by the military, Mali and Burkina Faso, have said in a joint statement that any military intervention against Niger will be considered a declaration of war against them.
Former colonial power France, which has said it will firmly support any measures taken after the deadline, announced on Sunday that development aid and budget support to Burkina Faso would be withdrawn.
Warns of Russia
At the same time, thousands of supporters of the new military government in Niger gathered at a sports arena in the capital, Niamey. Russian flags were waved in the audience, writes AFP.
Deposed Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum has appealed to the outside world for help and warned that Russia, through the private army Wagner, may gain control of the Sahel region.
Niger has played a key role for Western countries fighting a jihadist insurgency in the region since 2012.