Niger Reopens Airspace Following Military Coup

The Republic of Niger has officially reopened its airspace on Monday, marking the end of a nearly month-long ban imposed in the wake of a military coup that occurred in late July. The decision, as reported by the official Nigerien news agency ANP, comes after a series of back-and-forth actions by the coup leaders and intense regional pressure from neighboring countries and international bodies. The coup, which took place on July 26, had initially led to the closure of Niger's airspace. However, this measure was abruptly reversed on August 2, only to be reinstated just four days later on August 6. The swift changes were primarily prompted by the threat of military intervention from regional nations determined to reinstate civilian rule. "The airspace of the Republic of Niger is open to all national and international commercial flights," declared a spokesman from the transport ministry, signaling the official reopening. Ground services have also resumed operations alongside the airspace reopening. Nevertheless, it's important to note that Niger's airspace will remain off-limits to operational military flights and other aircraft requiring prior authorization from relevant authorities. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had previously imposed sanctions on Niger following the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum, and they have kept the possibility of military intervention as a last resort firmly on the table if diplomatic talks fail to restore civilian rule. On August 2, Niger had already reopened its land and air borders with five neighboring countries: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, and Chad. Special authorization had allowed select flights to continue utilizing Niamey's capital airport. However, as the situation in Niger remained in flux, the United Nations raised concerns on Friday about the significant impediments caused by border closures. These closures had caused substantial delays in the transit of essential food aid intended for Niger, underscoring the urgency of finding a resolution to the ongoing crisis.