Niger’s army junta closed the nation’s airspace and accused international powers of planning an invasion, because it defied an ultimatum to reinstate the ousted president.
The mutinous troopers warned Monday that any try and fly over the nation shall be met with “an energetic and immediate response.”
Niger’s state tv introduced the transfer Sunday night time, hours earlier than a deadline set by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, which demanded the coup leaders reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face army power.
A spokesman for the coup leaders, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, warned of “the threat of intervention being prepared in a neighboring country,” and mentioned Niger’s airspace shall be closed till additional discover.
The junta asserted that two central African nations are making ready for an invasion, however didn’t say which of them, and referred to as on the nation’s inhabitants to defend it.
International airways diverted flights round Nigerien airspace Sunday.
Regional tensions have mounted since mutinous troopers overthrew Niger’s democratically elected president practically two weeks in the past, detaining him and putting in Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as head of state. Tchiani was head of the presidential guard, and is accused of main the coup with a number of members of his unit.
Analysts say the coup is believed to have been triggered by an influence wrestle between him and the president, who was about to fireplace him. While some specialists painted a broader image of a battle for affect between the West and Russia.
It was not instantly clear what ECOWAS will do now that the deadline has handed, particularly as a result of the area is split on a plan of action.
On Saturday, Nigeria’s Senate pushed again on the plan to invade, urging Nigeria’s president, the bloc’s present chair, to discover choices apart from the usage of power. ECOWAS can nonetheless transfer forward, as last choices are made by consensus by member states.
Regional nations Guinea, Burkina Faso and Mali, in addition to Algeria, have come out in opposition to the usage of power, with Burkina Faso and Mali saying an assault on Niger “would be tantamount to a declaration of war” in opposition to them.
Senegal and Ivory Coast have each expressed assist for ECOWAS’ efforts to revive constitutional order, and Senegal’s authorities mentioned it could take part in a army operation if it went forward.
A former British army officer who labored in Nigeria mentioned army officers there advised him Monday that President Bolu Tinubu had not given orders to make use of army power. He spoke on situation of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the scenario.
But the junta doesn’t seem excited by negotiation.
An ECOWAS delegation despatched to Niger final week for talks was not allowed to depart the airport and met solely representatives of Tchiani.
On Sunday, junta leaders appeared at a rally within the capital, Niamey promising the hundreds of supporters current that their loyalty is not going to be betrayed.
“We are with you against them. We will give you the Niger that you are owed,” mentioned junta member Brig. Gen. Mohamed Toumba. After his speech, The Associated Press noticed rallygoers behead a rooster adorned within the colours of former colonizer France.
The junta is exploiting anti-French sentiments among the many inhabitants to shore up its assist base and transferring swiftly to chop ties with France, which French troopers labored with the Nigerien army to combat terrorist teams whereas trying to different companions.
Last week the junta additionally suspended French broadcaster RFI and France 24 tv from working within the nation and severed accords with France. French troopers have been working with the Nigerien army to combat terrorist teams.
It additionally requested for assist from the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which operates in a handful of African nations together with neighboring Mali, which can be run by a army regime.
On Monday, France’s ministry of international affairs “formally discouraged” any journey to Niger, Burkina Faso or Mali, and referred to as on French nationals to be extraordinarily vigilant.
Niger had been seen by the United States, France and different nations as their final main counterterrorism associate within the huge Sahel area, south of the Sahara Desert, the place teams linked to al-Qaida and the Daesh terrorist teams have been increasing their affect. The way forward for some 1,500 French army personnel and 1,100 U.S. army personnel in Niger shouldn’t be instantly identified.
Many folks, largely youth, have rallied across the junta, taking to the streets at night time to patrol, verify vehicles for weapons and stand guard in opposition to international intervention.
“I am here to support our defense and security forces of my country,” mentioned a coup supporter on the rally Sunday. “While they (terrorists) kill our brothers and sisters … Ecowas didn’t intervene. Is it now that they will intervene?” mentioned Amadou Boukari supporter on the rally Sunday. “Shame on Ecowas.”
But others have expressed considerations concerning the junta’s tightening grip on the inhabitants.
One official, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to remark, mentioned the junta is scaring folks into becoming a member of them and has folks informing them about which Nigeriens communicate with foreigners.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
