AES : Niger closes its skies to Nigeria for commercial flights
Niger has decided to suspend commercial flights between its territory and Nigeria. This measure was announced through a statement from the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) over the past weekend.
According to the statement, the Nigerien airspace remains open to all international and domestic commercial flights, except those from or destined to Nigeria. However, it is important to note that this restriction does not apply to flights that fly over Nigerien airspace without making a stopover.
This decision comes in the context of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali withdrawing from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the presidency of Nigerian Bola Tinubu. Sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on Niger, following the coup d’état that occurred on July 26, 2023, in Niamey, also contributed to this measure of suspending flights between the two countries.
In parallel with this suspension, some airlines serving the Nigerien capital, Niamey, have decided not to board French passengers to this destination, following recent incidents of refusal. This decision follows Niger’s ban, at the end of September, on French planes using its airspace, a sign of escalating tensions between Niger and France since the latter’s interference in Niamey’s internal affairs after the coup d’état in July 2023.
ASECNA also specifies that the Nigerien airspace remains closed to military, operational, and other special flights since August 6. These special flights are only allowed with prior authorization from the competent authorities, in accordance with the current directives.
