Niger’s junta shuts airspace and accuses neighboring nations of plan to invade as deadline passes

Niger’s mutinous soldiers closed the country’s airspace and accused foreign powers of preparing an attack, as the junta defied a deadline to restore the ousted president and said any attempt to fly over the country will be met with “an energetic and immediate response.” Niger’s state television announced the move Sunday night, hours before West African regional bloc ECOWAS had demanded that the coup leaders reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum or face military force. The junta asserted that two central African countries are preparing for an invasion, but did not say which ones, and called on the country’s population to defend it.