In front of Niamey airport, Niger, August 2, 2023. JONATHAN SARAGO / AFP

Officially, Niger's airspace has been closed since August 6, and will remain so until at least Sunday, August 20. On that date, the junta, which took power on July 26, is expected to announce whether or not it will maintain the ban on overflights. The decision was taken to guard against potential military intervention from neighboring countries, as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) heads of staff have been meeting in Accra, the capital of Ghana, since Thursday to discuss the issue.

But some airlines have been granted waivers by the putschists in recent days, allowing them to continue serving the country's capital. As stated in the memorandum issued by Niger's civil aviation authority, "Niamey airport is closed to all flights, except in exceptional cases authorized in advance by the competent authorities."

A case-by-case approach is evidently possible. Air Algérie continued to operate flights this week on Monday and Friday evenings, while Air Burkina served Niamey on Wednesday afternoon. But these flights are being operated very sparingly. "The planes leave absolutely packed," said an expatriate living in the capital, who prefers to remain anonymous. In addition, seats are expensive and "require special authorization from authorities."

These two companies are the only ones so far to have obtained these authorizations. This special treatment is justified by the junta's desire not to isolate itself completely, given that the Burkinabe regime has shown its support for the putschists, who have no intention of alienating Algiers.

"Algeria can impose itself in negotiations, as it did during the Tuareg rebellions against the Nigerien government," stressed a Niamey official close to the government of Mohamed Bazoum, who is currently sequestered. Beyond its desire to re-engage in the Sahel at a time when French influence is declining, this imposing neighbor has many challenges and interests in common with Niger, in terms of security, economics and migration.

'Evacuation flights'

Barring a declaration of war by ECOWAS, many observers consider the reopening of airspace early next week entirely possible. In this case, "Turkish Airlines and Royal Air Maroc could return as early as August 21, if security conditions are met," a diplomatic source commented, adding that there are also "evacuation flights to Gabon" this Friday. This resumption of traffic would enable the other airlines to readjust their routes and avoid bypassing the country, which lengthens flight times (an extra 40 minutes to Johannesburg), in order to serve certain African cities.

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