In response to Niger’s military rulers’ refusal to restore the elected government as demanded or risk potential military intervention, West African leaders are convening a summit this week to address the crisis in the country.

West African leaders will hold a summit on the crisis in Niger this week after the country’s military rulers defied an ultimatum to restore the elected government or face possible military intervention.

In its first official reaction since Niger ignored the deadline of midnight (2300 GMT) on Sunday to reinstate democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, the ECOWAS regional bloc said it would meet in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Thursday.

ECOWAS had issued its ultimatum at a previous summit in Abuja on July 30, warning it did not rule out the “use of force” in Niger.

No foreign troops were visible on the streets of Niger’s capital, Niamey, after the deadline came and went on Sunday.

A source close to ECOWAS said an immediate military intervention to restore Bazoum was not being envisaged at this stage.

Niger’s military leaders have closed the nation’s airspace and on Monday its skies were clear of traffic, according to the flight tracking website Flightradar24.

Italy urged ECOWAS to extend the deadline and seek a diplomatic solution, with a similar call from Germany.

Algeria, which shares a long land border with Niger, has also cautioned against a military solution, which President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said would be “a direct threat” to his North African country.

Senators in regional heavyweight Nigeria urged everyone to focus on the “political and diplomatic option”.

Just before the ultimatum expired on Sunday, Niger’s military rulers closed the Sahel country’s airspace and warned any attempt to enter it would meet with an “energetic and immediate response”.

They said there had been a “pre-deployment in preparation for intervention” made by two Central African countries, without naming them, and warned: “Any state involved will be considered co-belligerent.”

Former colonial power France, with which Niger’s new rulers have broken military ties, said it would “firmly” back whatever course of action ECOWAS took after the deadline expired.

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara called on Sunday on the coup leaders to stand down.

Khalil Wakim, with AFP