Several thousand people have demonstrated in Niamey, the capital of Niger, in support of last month's military coup, whose leader today warned against outside intervention and proposed a three-year transition of power.
The demonstrators chanted slogans hostile both to the former colonial power France and the West African regional bloc the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Regional powers are insisting that they must act in response to the fourth coup in West Africa in the past three years as it threatens regional stability.
ECOWAS is considering a potential military operation to reinstate elected president Mohamed Bazoum if ongoing negotiations with coup leaders fail.
Niger's military junta has officially banned demonstrations, but in practice allow those in support of the coup to go ahead.
The demonstrators waved placards saying "Stop the military intervention" and "No to sanctions" in reference to the financial and trade restrictions imposed by ECOWAS four days after the 26 July coup.
Today's event featured musicians praising the new military regime, which has calls itself the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.
It's the latest in a string of pro-coup rallies and comes a day after the new military ruler warned that an attack on Niger would not be a "walk in the park".
General Abdourahamane Tiani also said in a televised address yesterday that he did not wish to "confiscate" power, and claimed that a transition of power back to civilian rule would be accomplished within three years.
Niger's military rulers have accused France, which is a close ally of deposed President Bazoum, of being behind the anti-coup stance taken by ECOWAS, which is making a fresh push for a diplomatic solution.
After ECOWAS chiefs of staff met in the Ghanaian capital Accra on Friday, the 17-nation bloc said that it had agreed on a date for a potential intervention.
Papal appeal
Pope Francis has urged that a diplomatic solution be found.
"I am following with concern what is happening in Niger, and join the bishops' call in favour of peace in the country and stability in the Sahel," he told the faithful in St Peter's Square after his Angelus prayer.
"I join with prayer the efforts of the international community to find a peaceful solution as soon as possible for the good of everyone," said the 86-year-old.
ECOWAS also dispatched a diplomatic delegation to Niamey yesterday, led by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Niger television showed delegation members shaking hands with President Bazoum, who remains in detention.
It also broadcast footage of Mr Abubakar speaking to General Tiani, but the content of the exchange has not been made public.
General Tiani claims that ECOWAS is "getting ready to attack Niger by setting up an occupying army in collaboration with a foreign army", but has not specified which foreign army.
In his televised address, the general also announced a 30-day period of "national dialogue" to draw up "concrete proposals" which would be used to lay the foundations of "a new constitutional life".
ECOWAS leaders insist that they have to act now that Niger has become the fourth West African nation since 2020 to suffer a coup, following Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.
The bloc has agreed to activate a "standby force" as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger.
The Sahel region is struggling with growing jihadist insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
Those behind the military takeovers have pointed to frustration over the violence to justify seizing power.
