Mali revokes Air France permission to fly

Malian authorities have canceled Air France’s permission to fly between Paris and Bamako after the company suspended flights to the African country amid instability in Niger, Mali’s national civil aviation agency reported AFP.

On August 7, Air France, as recalled by AFP, suspended flights to Mali and Burkina Faso after the closure of the airspace of neighboring Niger. The decision was valid until Friday, August 11. However, Air France said on the same day that it extended the suspension of flights on August 18 inclusive “after the coup d’état in Niger and due to the geopolitical situation in the Sahel region.”

The Civil Aviation Agency, in a letter to the company, criticized Air France for not giving advance notice and “causing inconvenience to passengers.” The measure is expected to be in effect until October.

On July 27, the Niger military announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazum and the closure of the borders. At the same time, a nationwide curfew was established and the activities of all institutions of the republic were suspended. The rebels allegedly explained their actions by the deterioration of security, economic and social problems.

Later, on July 31, ECOWAS, which includes 15 states of the African region, issued a statement on the possible use of force if the rebels did not restore constitutional order in the country within a week and release the ousted president. On August 6, the bloc’s ultimatum expired. A few hours before the expiration of the ultimatum, the military leadership of Niger announcedwhich closes the country’s airspace due to the threat of a military invasion.

On August 8, French radio station RFI, citing an official in Nigeria, reported that African countries could send a contingent of 25,000 troops to invade Niger. It was clarified that most of the contingent could come from Nigeria.