The Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) has announced the closure of Niger’s airspace to commercial flights either originating from or destined for Nigeria.

This decision comes against the backdrop of complex diplomatic relations in the West African region, particularly with the withdrawal of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the end of January.

The move is a response to the ECOWAS sanctions imposed on Niger following the coup d’état on July 26.

WADR’s Abdullahi Hassan has the details