As the Niger junta reopens airspace, ECOWAS pressure decreases.

Leaders of the Niger Republic’s armed forces have let all commercial aircraft back into the nation’s airspace.According to Reuters, a spokesman for the ministry of transportation announced this on Monday.Following a coup, the junta took control and banned the skies on August 6.

The West African regional bloc’s threat of military action was the reason given for the initial closure of Niger’s airspace.Reuters claimed that the junta did not provide an explanation for lifting the ban right away.Due to the shutdown, Air France and other European airlines were obliged to reroute some of their flights across Africa.

Over twice the size of France, landlocked Niger is often above numerous flight lanes across Africa.The junta was issued a seven-day ultimatum by the regional alliance to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, whose government was overthrown on July 26, 2023.

Shortly after challenging the Economic Community of West African States, the junta declared an indefinite shutdown of its airspace.In the event that ECOWAS followed through on its threat to invade Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali had expressed a desire to fight with Niger.

Though its threat to restrain the military rule proved ineffective, ECOWAS has placed a higher priority on dialogue.The situation in Niger became complicated following the coup that occurred in Gabon last week.