Algeria denies passage for French military aircraft to Niger

Algeria has reportedly denied passage to the French military aircraft heading to Niger, as the North African state stands by its rejection of military intervention in the conflict-torn region.

"(...) in line with the Algerian position that strictly rejects any military intervention in Niger as an option to force the putschists to give up power and return President Mohamed Bazoum to office," the official Algerian radio quoted reliable sources.

Niger's President, Mohamed Bazoum, was elected two years ago in the first peaceful, democratic power transfer since independence in 1960.

But on 26 July, members of his presidential guard forced him out of office in the third coup in a few years that witnessed multiple coups in the Sahel region. The coup leaders in Niger say they want to prevent further economic and security problems.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gave a week-long deadline to the military council in Niger to return President Mohamed Bazoum, who is under house arrest. 

As the deadline expired on 6 August, ECOWAS military chiefs agreed to a plan for a possible military intervention to respond to the crisis, with the armies of countries, including Senegal and Ivory Coast, saying they were ready to participate.

ECOWAS has not said what its next steps would be or when exactly.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said on 5 August that it would support efforts by the West African regional bloc to make the military coup in Niger fail, the French foreign ministry said on Saturday, 19 August.

On Monday, the Algerian state-owned radio channel reported that "military intervention is imminent and arrangements are ready to attack Niger."

"Algeria has categorically refused to open its airspace to any foreign forces to carry out forceful intervention in Niger," confirmed the Algerian radio channel.

Algeria and Niger share a common border that extends for about 1,000 kilometres, along with human and historical ties. Several analysts say that an armed conflict near the Algerian borders,  an area plagued by terrorist organisations, will further burden the Algerian army.

The Algerian government is critical of the coup in Niger but opposes any potential intervention by ECOWAS, calling for a political solution instead.

On 5 August,  Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said that any external military action in Niger would threaten directly Algeria and set the entire Sahel region on fire.

"We are the main ones affected. (...) Algeria would not use force against its neighbours, but there would be no solution without Algeria either," he added.

So far, Algeria has not communicated with the coup leaders in Niger, nor has it taken any measures such as closing borders or suspending flights and commercial transactions.