The Nigerien military junta has kicked against possible military intervention by ECOWAS to restore power to the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum as West African leaders are set meet today, Sunday, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The emergency summit was called by the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to decide on further actions to pressure the army to restore constitutional order in the West African country.

The heads of state of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union are considering the option of suspending Niger from its institutions, cutting the country off from the regional central bank, financial market, and shutting their borders as a result of the coup.

For the first time, West African leaders may also explore military action to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum, who was deposed and replaced with General Abdourahamane Tiani who was announced as the new head of state on Friday.

In response to the interventions by the regional bloc, the junta encouraged citizens in the capital to march to the streets at 7 a.m. local time to protest against ECOWAS and express support for the new military administration, according to Reuters.

The military coup in Niger has been strongly condemned by the country’s neighbours and international partners, who have refused to recognize the new leaders and demanded that Bazoum be restored to office as the only recognised President.

The European Union and France have cut off financial support to Niger and the United States has threatened to follow suit.

According to the World Bank, Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, receiving about $2 billion in official development aid per year.