Situation in Niger After Military Coup
On July 26, Niger's presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum. The guard's commander, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, proclaimed himself the country's new leader.

Niger Bans France From Airspace: Aviation Authority

Niger's military rulers have banned "French aircraft" from flying over the country's airspace, according to the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) website.
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Niger's airspace is "open to all national and international commercial flights except for French aircraft or aircraft chartered by France including those of the airline Air France," it said in the statement dated late Saturday.
The air space would remain closed for "all military, operational and other special flights," unless receiving prior authorization, the message said. Air France told AFP simply that it was "not flying over Niger airspace."
Niger had reopened its airspace on September 4 for commercial flights after having been closed for nearly a month since August 6, when the country's military leaders closed it "in the face of the threat of armed intervention" from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The regional bloc threatened military action to restore the elected President Mohamed Bazoum who had been overthrown in a coup on July 26. ECOWAS cut off financial aid to Niger, froze the military's assets in addition to banning commercial flights to and from the country.
Situation in Niger After Military Coup
French Military Attacked Niger's National Guard, Entered Country’s Airspace: Coup Leaders
France has repeatedly supported the West African bloc, and relations between Paris and Niamey have been at an all-time low since the coup.
Niger is a former French colony and one of the last Western allies in the Sahel. It is also rich in uranium, on which France depends. As noted by French media, this African country accounts for 15% to 17% of the uranium used to produce electricity in France. There are currently 1,500 and 1,000 French troops deployed in Niger and Chad.