Thousands of Niger residents flocked to a stadium at the nation's capital in a show of support for rebel leaders who ignored a deadline that demanded them to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

The situation also had the military junta close the country's airspace on Sunday until further notice to avoid military intervention from the West African regional bloc. The coup is the seventh that has been seen in West and Central Africa in the last three years. It has shaken the Sahel region, considered one of the poorest in the world.

Niger Residents Rally in Support of Coup Leaders

Niger is considered a crucial region for the United States, Europe, China, and Russia due to its uranium and oil riches and its pivotal role in a war with Islamist militants. The defense chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have all agreed on a potential military plan.

This includes when and where to strike back against the rebels if they do not decide to release and reinstate Bazoum, who has been detained. In a statement, a representative from the military junta said they have information that there had been a pre-deployment of forces in two Central African countries, as per Reuters.

The representative added that Niger's armed forces and the country's defense and security forces, supported by the people, were ready to defend the integrity of their territory.

On the other hand, ECOWAS did not respond to a request asking for information on what they plan to do next in an attempt to reinstate Bazoum. Previously, a spokesman said the group would state by the end of Sunday.

More than 100 military junta supporters came together over the weekend and set up a picket near an air base in Niamey. They blasted military tunes and tooted vuvuzela horns as a part of the citizen movement offering non-violent resistance against the elected government.

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Potential Military Intervention

Previously, the French government has revealed that it supports efforts by members of ECOWAS in fighting against the rebel group. In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry said that the country's future and the entire region's stability were at stake, according to CNN.

In a statement, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said that all the elements that would go into a potential intervention have already been worked out and are being refined. He said that they are now discussing the timing and resources needed.

On Thursday, the bloc sent a delegation to Niamey to meet with coup leaders to address the current situation. However, a few hours later, the military junta warned that any military intervention would be met with "an immediate and unannounced response by Niger's defense and security forces."

The situation has also prompted the United States to pause certain foreign assistance programs that benefit the Niger government. However, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said they would continue to provide humanitarian and food assistance to the region, said The Guardian.

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