The military regime in power in Niger recently made a surprising decision: to ban French planes from its airspace. This measure, announced in a press release from the Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa, stipulates that Niger’s airspace remains open to national and international commercial flights, with the exception of French planes or planes chartered by France, including those of Air France.
This ban attracted attention and provoked strong reactions. Air France simply stated that it did not fly over Niger airspace. It should be noted that this decision comes after a nearly month-long closure of the country’s airspace due to the threat of intervention from neighboring countries, including the Economic Community of African States. West (ECOWAS), following the coup d’état which overthrew elected president Mohamed Bazoum last July.
Relations between France and Niger are currently tense. France has reiterated that it does not recognize the legitimacy of the military regime and maintains that its interlocutor is elected President Mohamed Bazoum, still detained since the coup. France expressed support for ECOWAS and Nigerien authorities expelled the French ambassador in Niamey and withdrew his diplomatic immunity and visa.
This decision to close the airspace to French planes reflects the deterioration of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It also raises questions about the economic consequences for Niger, particularly for the tourism sector and French airlines that operate in the region.
It remains to be seen how this situation will evolve and whether it will have wider repercussions on relations between France and the countries of the region. In the meantime, travelers and airlines should take these new restrictions into account when planning their trips to or from Niger.