Niger’s junta shuts airspace and accuses neighbouring nations of plan to invade as deadline passes

Niger's junta defies ECOWAS deadline to restore ousted President, closes airspace and warns of foreign intervention. Supporters rally around junta, while others fear tightening grip on population.

Niger’s mutinous soldiers closed the country’s airspace and accused foreign powers of preparing an attack, as the junta defied a deadline to restore the ousted President and said any attempt to fly over the country will be met with “an energetic and immediate response.”

Niger’s state television announced the move Sunday night, hours before a deadline set by West African regional bloc ECOWAS, which demanded the coup leaders reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face military force.

A spokesman for the coup leaders, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, warned of “the threat of intervention being prepared in a neighbouring country,” and said Niger's airspace will be closed until further notice. The junta asserted that two central African countries are preparing for an invasion, but did not say which ones, and called on the country's population to defend it.

Regional tensions have mounted since mutinous soldiers overthrew Niger’s democratically elected President nearly two weeks ago, detaining him and installing Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as head of State. Mr. Tchiani was head of the Presidential guard, and is accused of leading the coup with several members of his unit.

Analysts say the coup is believed to have been triggered by a power struggle between him and the President, who was about to fire him.

It was not immediately clear what ECOWAS will do now that the deadline has passed, especially because the region is divided on a course of action.

On Saturday, Nigeria’s Senate pushed back on the plan to invade, urging Nigeria’s President, the bloc’s current chair, to explore options other than the use of force. ECOWAS can still move ahead, as final decisions are made by consensus by member states.