Air France has extended its flight suspension to and from Mali and Burkina Faso until September 24th, with flights to Niger remaining suspended indefinitely.
The airline, which plays a key role in connecting Europe and Africa, first paused its flights to Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey on August 7th because of a coup that led to Niger’s airspace closure on July 26th, 2023.
Even though Niger reopened its airspace on September 4th, Air France will continue to overfly the country but will not resume flights to Niamey.
A company representative explained that the suspensions are due to the political unrest in Niger and the overall geopolitical climate in the Sahel region.
Air France, in consultation with French authorities, continually assesses the geopolitical landscape in the areas they serve, prioritizing passenger and crew safety. This marks the fifth time the airline has extended the flight suspension.
The Niger Military Council previously accused French army forces of violating the country’s airspace during the operation.
This followed the expiration of the deadline set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the military council to either reinstate President Mohammed Bazoum or face potential military intervention.
Mali and Burkina Faso pledged their support for the Niger Military Council, urging the United Nations Security Council to take measures preventing military operations in the region.
