All of Niger’s borders had been closed after an announcement by the coup makers on state television last week when President Mohamed Bazoum was removed.
However, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, who was declared as the new head of state of Niger by leaders of a coup, arrives to meet with ministers in Niamey, Niger
General Abdourahmane
Niger has announced the reopening of its borders with several of its neighbours a week after a coup that has been condemned by foreign powers and raised fears of a wider conflict in West Africa’s Sahel region.
“The land and air borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya and Chad are reopened from August 1, 2023,” a spokesperson for the transitional military government said on state television.
The government closed the borders on July 26 while announcing that it had removed democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum from power.
Niger’s coup was the seventh military takeover in less than three years in Western and Central Africa.
On Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened to use force if soldiers do not reinstate Bazoum after a one-week ultimatum.
Defence chiefs from ECOWAS are set to start a two-day meeting in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Niger.
A delegation from the regional bloc was also expected to arrive in Niger’s capital Niamey on Wednesday to start talks with the military government, led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani.
