Niger military junta has reopened the country’s land borders and airspace, about one week after the coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.
In an announcement on Tuesday night, the military junta said the borders were opened to Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Libya, and Chad.
“The land and air borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad are reopened as of today”, he declared.
The junta also appointed new governors for the country’s eight regions.
The reopening of borders with five neighbouring countries also comes just a few days before the end of the ultimatum to restore constitutional order, demanded on Sunday by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which does not rule out the use of “force” if it is not respected.
Meanwhile, foreign countries including France and Italy have begun evacuating their citizens and other nationals from Niger.
Other countries, including the United States and Germany, and global organizations such as the European Union (EU) have also suspended financial support to the country in condemnation of the coup.
Similarly, the Committee of the Chiefs of Defense Staff, CCDS of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS began a three-day meeting in Nigeria on Wednesday to discuss the way to restore democracy in the Republic of Niger.
