Niger's New Regime Accuses France of Violating Its Airspace

Niger's military leaders have accused France of violating a ban on entering the country's airspace. This was reported by Al Arabiya, referencing AFP.

The ban was declared two weeks ago, ahead of a summit of West African leaders following a coup. The spokesman for the military junta's 'National Council for the Defense of the Homeland', Amadou Abdramane, stated that French forces had 'unilaterally released captured terrorists' and launched a military aircraft from N’Djamena that 'deliberately lost contact with air traffic control after entering our airspace.'

The government has ordered a heightened state of alert throughout the country. The French government has denied the allegations made by Niger's new leadership. A source from the French government told AFP that the flight 'was authorized and coordinated with Niger's armed forces.'

Niger's regime insisted that France allowed a military aircraft to fly from neighboring Chad on Wednesday. The aircraft then crossed into Niger, opposing the ban that was set on Sunday. France has about 1,500 troops in Niger to support the fight against extremists who invaded Mali in 2015.