On July 30, the regional chairman of ECOWAS Bola Tinubu issued sanctions against the Niger Republic, asking the military junta to put back the ousted president.
ECOWAS said it would take all necessary measures, including the use of force if Bazoum is not reinstated within a week of the meeting.
As the ECOWAS deadline comes to a close, Niger’s military junta has disclosed that they have closed the country’s airspace.
The spokesperson, Amadou Abdramane, announced this on national television on Sunday, for the junta, said they were closing the country’s airspace until further notice due to “the threat of interventionâ€.
“In the face of the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday for all aircraft until further notice,†he said.
“Niger’s armed forces and all our defence and security forces, backed by the unfailing support of our people, are ready to defend the integrity of our territory.â€
It warned that any attempt to violate the country’s airspace would be met with an “energetic and immediate responseâ€.
The military warned that “any state involved will be considered co-belligerentâ€.
Despite several additional calls for the release of the Niger president, the junta has not yielded grounds.
Although, ECOWAS has not disclosed what its next steps would be after the deadline elapsed.