The general staff of the French armies denied on Tuesday that it had requested an authorization to fly over Algeria for a military operation in Niger. The information was given by an Algerian public radio stating that the Algerian authorities had refused.
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Nothing was asked for, nor refused. The General Staff of the French armies refuted, Tuesday, August 22, having asked Algeria for an authorization to fly over its territory for a military operation in Niger.
The general staff invalidates the request by France to fly over Algerian territory and therefore the refusal of the Algerian authorities, said the General Staff of the French armies to Reuters.
An Algerian public radio announced Monday evening that Algiers had refused to accede to this request from France. Algeria opposes any foreign military intervention in Niger and favors diplomatic means to restore constitutional order in the country since the July 26 military coup, she added.
Intervention in Niger: what to remember from the Algerian position?
Since the July 26 coup in Niger, Algeria has opposed any foreign military intervention in the Sahel, notably for fear of an influx of immigrants into its territory, according to a government source interviewed by Reuters.
“We are opposed to the coup d’etat but we are against military action which would aggravate the situation in Niger and in the whole of the Sahel”, said this source wishing to remain anonymous.
Paris officially supports the line of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which last week affirmed its readiness to deploy an intervention force in the event of the failure of diplomatic efforts to restore democracy in the country. Niger.
France has some 1,500 soldiers based in Niger.
With Reuters
Source: France 24
