France is rolling out forces in countries belonging to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for military intervention in Niger, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, a spokesman for Niger's coup leaders, said on national TV.
"France continues to deploy its forces in several ECOWAS countries as part of preparations for an aggression against Niger, which it is planning in collaboration with this community organization," Amadou Abdramane noted.
He added that French military cargo planes "have enabled large quantities of war material and equipment to be unloaded in Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and Benin, to name but a few".
The coup in Niger by the military, led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani on 26 July drew condemnation from the ECOWAS bloc, and France, which expressed support for ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. In early August the West African group agreed to deploy military forces to put pressure on coup leaders to restore Bazoum to power.
Earlier in September, Niger's military accused France of trying to force ECOWAS to attack the West African nation.
After the coup, Niger's military in power gave France - its former colonial overlord - 30 days to withdraw troops and severed all military agreements with France. Niger also saw massive popular demonstrations in support of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland formed by the coup's leaders and calling on France to end its military presence in the West African nation.
On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron, however, said that Paris would not recognize Niger's coup government and would only discuss the withdrawal with President Bazoum.