Niger has closed its airspace for French airlines, including Air France, due to aggravated relations between the African and European nations that originated from political upheaval.
According to Aviation24, the military regime that took control of Niger following a coup on July 26 has made the ban public throughout the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASCNA), saying that French planes and those chartered by France are forbidden.
However, the airspace is still open to all national and international commercial flights. Air France, on the other hand, has confirmed that all flights over Niger airspace are not being operated at the moment and also suspended its flights to Niamey since August 7. The decision to return these flights has yet to be announced.
Niger initially closed its airspace on August 6 due to the “threat of intervention from neighbouring countries” after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened military action to return the elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, who was overthrown in the coup.
France has openly supported ECOWAS, which is now raising tension in the relations between Paris and Niamey and is the source of the tension. The bilateral relations are believed to be at an all-time low.
The ban followed statements of the French President Emmanuel Macron when he declared in mid-September that the French ambassador to Niger was being held ‘hostage’ by those in authority. The same pointed out that diplomats at the embassy were surviving on military rations.
Moreover, the ban was extended beyond commercial flights, including all operational, military and special flights, unless they were authorised prior to flying over the Niger’s airspace. This decision after Niger reopened its airspace for commercial flights on September 4, after a nearly month-long closure. The initial closure was announced on August 6 as a response to the threats of intervention from neighbouring countries.
This tension further escalated when the military regime ordered the French ambassador to be expelled at the end of August after Paris refused to abide by an ultimatum demanding his departure. French authorities had said that the regime lacked the authority to make the demand expulsion of the French ambassador.
It remains uncertain how this decision will affect the relations with France as well as the international community. The ban underscores the interconnectedness of geopolitics and aviation, demonstrating how political decisions can have far-reaching impacts beyond their immediate context. The African nation is one of 20 former French colonies.
