The military regime in power in Niger has banned French planes from its airspace, a new episode in the deterioration of relations between Paris and Niamey since the July 26 coup.
Niger’s airspace “is open to all national and international commercial flights with the exception of French planes or planes chartered by France, including those of the Air France fleet”, indicates a message to air crews published on the website of the Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar.
The airspace remains closed for “all operational military flights and special flights”, unless special authorization from the authorities, continues this message dated Saturday evening.
Questioned by AFP, Air France simply indicated that it does not “fly over Niger airspace”.
The French company, the main airline linking Europe and Africa, has also suspended its flights to Niamey since August 7 (4 flights per week), until further notice.
On September 4, Niger reopened its airspace for commercial flights after nearly a month of closure.
Niger announced on August 6 its closure “in the face of the growing threat of intervention from neighboring countries”, while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened to intervene militarily to restore elected president Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown by a coup on July 26.
Relationships at rock bottom
France has repeatedly affirmed its support for ECOWAS and relations between Paris and Niamey are at their lowest since the putsch.
The military regime notably ordered at the end of August the expulsion of the French ambassador to Niamey, Sylvain Itté, and withdrew his diplomatic immunity and visa.
But the latter is still stationed at the embassy and Paris refuses to recall him.
On August 3, a week after taking power, Nigerien generals denounced several military cooperation agreements with the former colonial power.
One of these texts contained a month’s notice, and the regime claims that the approximately 1,500 French soldiers deployed in Niger in the anti-jihadist fight are present “illegally” in the country.
Demonstrations regularly take place in the capital to demand their departure. For the moment, they remain camped in their bases.
Since the coup, France has repeated that it does not recognize the legitimacy of the soldiers who took power and that its interlocutor remains the elected president Mohamed Bazoum, held prisoner since July 26.
The latter took action this week in West African justice to obtain his release and the restoration of constitutional order in Niger.
The military regime also attacked the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Antonio Guterres, on Friday, accusing him of having “obstructed” the participation of their representative in the General Assembly of the Nations united.
According to a diplomatic source, the UN has, in the case of Niger, received two different requests to speak at the General Assembly, one for the Minister of Foreign Affairs appointed by the military regime, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, and the other coming from the overthrown government.
“In the event of competing credentials from a Member State, the Secretary General shall refer the matter to the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly which deliberates on the matter. The secretary general does not decide,” replied Mr. Guterres’ spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, to AFP.