The military junta, which seized power in Niger on July 26, stated that they closed the Niger airspace until further notice and announced that a foreign country was preparing to attack Niger.
Colonel Amadou Abdramane, Spokesperson of the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland (CNSP), announced that the Niger airspace was closed until further notice, in case of a military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Abdramane stated that any violation will be responded to immediately and strongly, “A foreign country is preparing to attack our country with the cooperation of ECOWAS.” used the phrase
Emphasizing that ECOWAS has deployed soldiers in 2 Central African countries as part of military intervention preparations, Abdramane said that every country involved will be considered as collaborator.
Abdramane invited Nigerian youth to defend their country.
THE TIME GIVEN TO THE JUNTA WILL EXPIRE BEFORE MIDDLE NIGHT
The 7-day deadline given by ECOWAS to the military junta on 30 July for President Mohammed Bazum’s release and reinstatement will expire before 00:00 local time.
ECOWAS had announced that they would consider every option, including military intervention, if their demands were not met during this time.
The possibility of military intervention drew the reaction of other junta governments in West Africa.
Burkina Faso and Mali, where there are soldiers in the administration, warned ECOWAS that military intervention in Niger means waging war against them, in a joint statement they published, and Guinea also made a statement of support for the junta.
Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin and Nigeria, on the other hand, announced that they would support the military intervention of ECOWAS, of which they are members.
Non-ECOWAS countries in the region such as Algeria, Libya, Chad and Mauritania also announced that they do not support the military operation of ECOWAS.
COUP IN NIGER
In Niger, President Mohammed Bazum was detained by elements of the Presidential Guard Regiment on July 26, and that evening the military announced that he had seized power.
General Abdurrahmane (Omar) Tchiani, Commander of the Presidential Guard Regiment, assumed the leadership of the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland (CNSP) junta on July 28 and became the head of the transitional government. (AA)