The military regime resulting from a coup d'état in Niger decided to reopen, Monday, September 4, its airspace to commercial flights, closed since August 6, according to the Nigerien Press Agency (ANP, official).
"The airspace of the Republic of Niger is open to all national and international commercial flights," a spokesman for the Ministry of Transport was quoted as saying by the ANP, adding that ground services had also resumed.
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"The airspace remains closed to all operational military flights and other special flights that are only allowed subject to prior authorization from the relevant authorities," he added.
Continuation of ECOWAS sanctions
Niger had announced on 6 August the closure of its airspace "in the face of the threat of intervention that is becoming clearer from neighbouring countries", while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened to intervene militarily to restore elected President Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown by a coup d'état on 26 July.
Niger's land and air borders were closed by the military the day after they took power, then reopened with five neighbouring countries on 2 August: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad. However, some flights with special permits were able to continue to serve the airport of Niamey, the country's capital.
Niger continues to suffer from the sanctions imposed on the country by ECOWAS to bend the military to power.
The UN warned that regional sanctions and border closures were "greatly affecting Niger's supply of vital food and medical supplies."
With AFP
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