Paris claims, however, that it did not ask the authorities in Algiers for such permission.
Algeria has turned down a request from France to fly over its airspace for a military operation in Niger, where President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in a military coup in late July, several media reports suggested on Tuesday, citing the North-African nation’s state radio.
Algerian national radio reported late on Monday that it had learned from sources that Paris was planning a strike against Niamey’s new military rulers if they did not release Bazoum, who has been held in detention since July 26.
“Faced with Algerian refusal, France turned to Morocco, asking for authorization to pass its military planes through its airspace,” state radio said, according to the Nova News Agency.
France, which has some 1,500 troops in its former colony Niger and has been conducting operations in the Sahel region against jihadist insurgencies, has been accused by the coup leadership of plotting to intervene militarily to restore the ousted president’s rule.
The French foreign ministry denied any intention of armed intervention in the West African country but has repeatedly stated that it supports the efforts of the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, which has threatened to use force to reverse the coup.
“France’s joint defense staff denies making a request to fly over Algerian territory,” a source in the French army told Reuters.
ECOWAS said on Friday that it has decided on a date for sending troops into Niger if diplomatic efforts at Bazoum’s restoration prove unsuccessful.
Benin, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria have all expressed willingness to contribute troops to the bloc’s mission to restore democratic order in Niger.
Earlier this month, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune raised concerns about an armed response to the crisis in Niamey, which he fears “could ignite the whole Sahel region.” He added that Algeria would not use force against its neighbors.
In a statement on Saturday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Algeria insisted on a peaceful restoration of democratic order, opposing the possible use of an ECOWAS “standby force” against the military leaders in Niger, saying military interventions “have brought more problems than solutions.”
Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) warned on Tuesday against any external interference in Niger, after suspending the country’s membership as punishment for the coup.
It is not new. Already some time ago, Algeria denied france to flew over its territory. It was also during some military event i think in Mali .
correction : to fly
and i will add to the above comment that Macron always does the necessary to be throwned out everywhere. Impopular not only in France, but everywhere in the world through his arrogance an incompetence
If one knows history, especially the history that is NOT taught at school, one knows exactly why Algeria is anti-France.
Same reason as with Niger.
Indeed. But the trouble is , while algeria detests france and accuse france of all its troubles – rich country with rich agricultural soil and oil and gas – algerians keep coming to france by thousands. And not always the ” upper crust”
If Africa wouldn’t be sucked out by the rest of the world, especially by the West,, the African nations would be able to create a much better economy and people actually could make a living there.
this is true for many countries, not only for africa.
But when you have “richesses” you get also predators and parasites
yep, just like here in NZ.
We are just a bit too self-sufficient and tough for the elite scum to really try us.
Mind u, the billionaires try to buy bunker space. Bummer is that we know where they try to hide their sorry a****.
👍 lol