Niger coup deadline expires: Air space closes as Junta refuses to reinstate president

Niger has closed its airspace, after defying a deadline – imposed by ECOWAS – to reinstate the democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum. The West African regional bloc issued the ultimatum a week ago, demanding the generals relinquish power by midnight on Sunday, or face possible military action. In a statement, coup leaders said that any attempt to violate the country’s airspace would be met with an ‘energetic and immediate response’. FRANCE 24’s Vedika Bahl and Charlotte Hughes explain.