The military junta of Niger has prohibited the entry into the airspace of French or French-chartered aircraft, according to information published on the official website of the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (Asecna).
The information, shared on Saturday evening with crews on Asecna’s website, indicates that Niger’s airspace “is open to all domestic and international commercial flights, with the exception of French or French-chartered aircraft, including those of Air France”.
Speaking to Agence France-Presse, an Air France source limited himself to stating that “it does not fly over Niger’s airspace.”
Asecna’s message also clarifies that Niger’s airspace remains closed to “all operational military flights and special flights”, except those with special authorization.
The military junta of Niger announced, on September 4, the reopening of the airspace to civil and commercial flights, closed in August due to an alleged “threat of invasion” after the coup d’état carried out at the end of July, which deposed the president. and suspended the Constitution.
Since then, diplomatic relations between Niger and France have cooled, particularly with the military junta ordering the French ambassador, Sylvain Itté, to leave the territory, going so far as to withdraw his immunity and threaten to expel him by force. ., which was rejected by France.
Source: TSF
