Air France extends the suspension of its flights to the Sahel

The French company is once again extending the interruption of its flights to and from Mali and Burkina Faso, this time until the end of the month. Following the putsch, flights to Niger remain suspended “until further notice”.

Air France has extended “until August 31 inclusive” the suspension of its flights to and from Mali and Burkina Faso, flights to Niger remaining stopped “until further notice”, we learned. with the company on Thursday.

Fifteen flights per week suspended

The French company, the main airline between Europe and Africa, suspended its flights to Bamako (7 flights per week), Ouagadougou (5 flights per week) and Niamey (4 flights per week) on August 7 after the closure of neighboring Niger’s airspace, the scene of a July 26 coup. On August 11, Air France had already extended these connections until Friday “following the coup d’etat in Niger and because of the geopolitical situation in the Sahel region”.

In retaliation, the authorities of Mali, whose military leaders have shown solidarity with the Nigerien putschists, canceled Air France’s authorization to operate between Paris and Bamako, citing a “notorious breach” of the terms of its authorization to operation. This cancellation is valid for the entire summer season, which extends until October. “Your slot could be granted to another company that would request it,” said the Nigerien National Civil Aviation Agency in a letter to the company. The latter asks the company to submit a new flight program before resuming its service.

Coup in Niger on July 26

Relations between France, a former colonial power engaged militarily alongside the Malian army against the jihadists since 2013, and Mali have deteriorated sharply since colonels took power by force in Bamako in August 2020. The junta pushed the French forces towards the exit in 2022 and turned politically and militarily towards Russia. She expelled the French ambassador. France and Mali this week suspended their reciprocal issuance of visas by their consular services in Bamako and Paris.