Military leaders in Niger warned in a statement via state television on Saturday evening against any armed intervention in their country.

This comes as leaders from West African countries are preparing to meet in the Nigerian capital today, Sunday, July 30, 2023, in an emergency summit to decide on further measures to pressure the military to restore constitutional order.

The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which comprises 15 members, and the West African Economic and Monetary Union, consisting of eight members, can suspend Niger's membership in both organizations, exclude the country from the regional central bank and financial market, and close the borders.

Niger is also considered one of the poorest countries in the world, receiving official developmental aid estimated at about two billion dollars annually, according to the World Bank.

It is a key security partner for some Western countries like France and the United States, which use it as a base for their efforts to contain violence perpetrated by militants in the Sahel region of West and Central Africa.

West African leaders may also, for the first time, consider military intervention to restore President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted when General Abdourahamane Tiani was declared the new head of the country last Friday.

Ahead of the anticipated summit, Niger’s military leaders issued a statement via state television on Saturday evening warning against any military intervention in their country.

Furthermore, military council spokesman Amadou Abdourahamane stated that the "purpose of the ECOWAS meeting is to approve a plan of aggression against Niger through imminent military intervention in Niamey in collaboration with other African countries that are not ECOWAS members and some Western countries."

He continued, "We want to remind the Economic Community of West African States or any other adventurer of our steadfast determination to defend our homeland."

The military council also issued a second statement on Saturday evening calling citizens in the capital to take to the streets from 7 a.m. local time (06:00 GMT) to protest against ECOWAS and show support for the new military leaders.

It is worth noting that the military coup in Niger has been widely condemned by its neighbors and international partners who refuse to recognize the new leaders and demand the return of Bazoum to power.

No comment has come from Bazoum since dawn Thursday when he was held inside the presidential palace, but the European Union, France, and others say they still recognize him as the legitimate president.

The European Union and France have also decided to halt financial support to Niger, and the United States has threatened to take similar action.

Following an emergency meeting on Friday, the African Union issued a statement calling for the military to return to their barracks and restore constitutional order within 15 days, but the Union did not disclose other measures it might take.