(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ALGIERS, Aug 7 (KUNA) -- The military council in Niger decided to closed off the country's airspace on Sunday evening after the ultimatum for military intervention by Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) expired.
ECOWAS said latest it would use force to bring back President Mohammad Bazoum into power after the coup carried out by his country's military council.
According to local Niger press and media on Monday, the military council announced it would shut off the airspace late Sunday, warning that it would shoot down any aircraft that violates Niger's airspace.
The same sources indicated that the council accused foreign actors, namely France without direct mention, of pressure ECOWAS to militarily interference in Niger.
Leaders of the coup gathered tens of thousands of people at stadium in the capital Niamey to display support to the members of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) led by General Omar Tchiani.
In their last Abuja, Nigeria, meeting on Sunday of last week, ESCOWA members called for the reinstatement of President Mohammad Bazoum who was detained by the military council, giving the coup instigators one week to carry out the deed.
The African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council also gave leaders of the coup 15 days to bring back civilian rule under President Bazoum.
Bazoum was elected as President in 2021 as the first Arab to rule Niger.
Since independence from France in 1960, Niger witnessed four successful coups and many failed ones. (end)
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