Niger Closes Airspace To France

Niger, the last of the Sahel countries to suffer a coup, continues to distance itself from France. Niger’s military regime has banned the presence of “French aircraft” in the country’s airspace.

The Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) clarifies that “Nigerian airspace is open to all national and international commercial flights, with the exception of French or French-leased aircraft, including those belonging to Air France.” Niger only reopened its airspace on September 4. It had been closed for a month due to internal unrest and fears of interference from neighboring countries that intended to return elected President Mohamed Bazoum to power.

On Sunday, September 24, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a television interview the upcoming withdrawal of a 1,500-people French military contingent from Niger. This was a response to the demands of the putschists and the French ambassador, whose immunity was no longer guaranteed. “Françafrica (a system of informal French guardianship over its former African colonies – ed.) no longer exists,” Macron said. “When there is a military coup, we do not interfere.”