Niger's coup leaders have said they cannot host a visit by delegates from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) because of security risks for the visitors, media reported Tuesday.
The caretaker National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), headed by Niger's presidential guard commander, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, noted that the West African country's land and air borders are currently closed.
Earlier reports indicated that a high-level delegation of representatives from the African Union, ECOWAS, and the United Nations would travel to Niger to hold talks with the rebels and work toward the restoration of disbanded institutions.
However, the coup leaders said that the threat of sanctions and invasion by ECOWAS had caused public anger, making it unsafe to receive their delegation in peace and safety.
On July 26, President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger was ousted and detained by his presidential guard. General Abdourahmane Tchiani, commander of the guard, declared himself interim president. The CNSP then appointed Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, an economist and finance minister, as interim prime minister.
In response to the coup, ECOWAS, of which Niger is a member, condemned the actions, suspended financial aid, and gave the coup leaders one week to reinstate the detained president. They warned of possible military intervention if the demands were not met.
Western media reported that Niger's armed forces were deploying reinforcements in preparation for a possible ECOWAS intervention after the 15-member regional bloc's ultimatum expired.
Although President Bazoum was democratically elected, reports from Niamey, the capital, suggest that many people view the coup as a positive change.
A poll conducted for The Economist by Premise Data found that 78% of respondents in Niger support the military takeover. In addition, 73% believe that the coup leaders should remain in power either "for an extended period" or "until new elections are held."