The new military council in Niger has requested assistance from the Russian mercenary group Wagner as the deadline approaches for the release of the ousted president or face a potential military intervention from the regional bloc in West Africa, according to an analyst.

The request came during a visit by one of the coup leaders, General Salifou Modi, to neighboring Mali, where he made contact with a person from Wagner, said Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, to the Associated Press. He added that three financial sources and a French diplomat confirmed the meeting first reported by France 24.

He said, "They need (Wagner) because they are a guarantee to hold onto power," adding that the group is considering the request. A Western military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment, told the Associated Press that they had also heard reports that the military council had requested assistance from Wagner in Mali.

The military council in Niger faces a Sunday deadline set by the regional bloc known as ECOWAS to release democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who described himself as a hostage, and to return him to office.

Defense ministers from the member states of the Economic Community of West African States finalized an intervention plan on Friday and urged the armies to prepare resources after a mediation team sent to Niger on Thursday was not allowed to enter the capital or meet with the military council leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

The Nigerian Senate advised the president on Saturday, the current chair of the Economic Community of West African States, to continue exploring options other than the use of force to restore democracy in Niger, noting the "friendly relationship between Nigeriens and Nigerians." Legislators had discussed the president's request to inform them of the decisions of the Economic Community of West African States and Nigeria's participation, as required by law.

It appears that final decisions made by the Economic Community of West African States are taken by consensus among its member countries.

After his visit to Mali, which is governed by a sympathetic military council, Modi warned of military intervention, pledging that Niger would do what is necessary to avoid becoming a "new Libya," as reported by Niger's state television on Friday.

Niger is seen as the last reliable Western partner in fighting terrorism in a region where coups have been common in recent years. The military councils have turned away from former colonizer France and moved toward Russia. Wagner operates in a few African countries, including Mali, where its forces have been accused by human rights groups of committing deadly abuses.