“The airspace of the Republic of Niger is open to all national and international commercial flights,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport on Monday, quoted by the Niger News Agency (ANP, official), specifying that ground services had also resumed, but that the airspace remained closed to “all operational military flights and other special flights which are authorized only subject to prior authorization by the competent authorities”.
Niger’s land and air borders had been closed by the military following their takeover, on July 26, then reopened with five neighboring countries on August 2, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad. However, some flights with special authorizations were able to continue to serve the airport of Niamey, the country’s capital.
These measures had been taken by the Nigerien junta “in the face of the threat of intervention which is becoming clearer from neighboring countries”, while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened to intervene militarily to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
The country continues to suffer sanctions imposed by ECOWAS to bend the military in power, even if these “greatly affect Niger’s supply of vital foodstuffs and medical supplies”, according to the UN.