Anticipating ECOWAS Military Intervention, Niger Closes Its Airspace To Undetermined Time Limits

Dioriruhi International Airport di Niger. (Wikimedia Commons/US Department of Energy's/Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program/Rolanda Jundt)

Niger closed its airspace on Sunday until further notice, citing anticipating military intervention from the West African regional bloc, after coup leaders rejected a deadline to return the ousted president.

Thousands of junta supporters flocked to stadiums in the capital Niamey, cheering to welcome the decision not to give up on external pressure to step down on Sunday, after a power struggle on July 26.

"Dalam menghadapi ancaman intervensi yang semakin real... Wilayah udara Nigeria ditutup mulai hari ini," kata seorang perwakilan junta dalam sebuah pernyataan di televisi nasional pada Hari Minggu malam, melansir Reuters 7 Agustus.

He said there had been deployment of troops in two Central African countries, in preparation for intervention, but did not provide details.

"Niger armed forces and all our defense and security forces, supported by the relentless support of our people, are ready to maintain the integrity of our territory," he stressed.

Previously, the heads of defense for the Economic Society of West African Countries (ECOWAS) had approved a possible military action plan, including when and where to attack if the detained president, Mohamed Bazoum, was not released and restored on a predetermined time limit.

ECOWAS did not respond to a request for comment on the next step, or when exactly, after the deadline ended on Sunday.

Military threats from the bloc have sparked concern over further conflict in areas that have fought deadly religious insurgency and have killed thousands of people, forcing millions of people to flee.

Any military intervention could be complicated by promises from juntas in neighboring countries, Mali and Burkina Faso, to help Niger if needed.

It is known, this is the seventh coup in West and Central Africa in three years, rocked the Sahel region, one of the poorest regions in the world. With its richness of uranium and oil and its important role in the fight against Islamist militants, Niger has an important meaning to the US, Europe, China, and Russia.