French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday that Paris has decided to end its military cooperation with Niger and withdraw its forces from the African country in the coming months after the military coup there.
“France has decided to return its Ambassador and end its military cooperation with Niger,” he said in a television interview.
This development comes hours after the ruling military regime in Niger prevented French aircraft from crossing the country’s airspace, according to a letter addressed to air crews, published today, Sunday, on the website of the African Air Traffic and Security Agency.
The message issued yesterday evening, Saturday, said that Niger’s airspace “is open to all national and international commercial flights, with the exception of French aircraft or aircraft leased by France, including those belonging to the Air France fleet.”
The message added that the airspace remains closed “to all military and private flights” except for those with a special license from the authorities.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency