Niamey: In support of the coup, whose leader has warned against outside intervention and proposed a three-year transition of power, thousands of people demonstrated in Niger's capital on Sunday.

The protesters chanted anti-French and anti-ECOWAS chants. If ongoing talks with the coup leaders are unsuccessful, ECOWAS is considering launching a military operation to restore elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

Although the Sahel state's new military rulers have officially outlawed protests, in reality those in favour of the coup are still permitted to hold them.

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The protesters held up signs reading "Stop the military intervention" and "No to sanctions," which were put in place by ECOWAS four days after the July 26 coup and restricted trade and financial transactions.

Pope Francis on Sunday urged a diplomatic resolution to the political crisis in Niger in the Vatican in order to prevent a further catastrophic war.

Following the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis addressed the faithful in St. Peter's Square, saying, "I am following with concern what is happening in Niger, and I join the bishops' call in favour of peace in the country and stability in the Sahel."

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"I join with prayer the efforts of the international community to find a peaceful solution as soon as possible for the good of everyone," the 86-year-old said.

Journalists reported that musicians praising the new military regime played at the pro-coup rally on Sunday.

The most recent of several pro-coup demonstrations took place the day after the new military ruler in Niamey issued a warning that an attack on Niger would not be a "walk in the park."

In a televised speech on Saturday, General Abdourahamane Tiani added that he did not want to "confiscate" power and that a return to civilian rule would not last longer than three years.

The newly elected leaders of Niger have charged France, a close Bazoum ally, with orchestrating ECOWAS' anti-coup stance, which was the focus of a renewed diplomatic effort on Saturday.

The 17-nation group said it had decided on a date for a potential intervention after its chiefs of staff met on Friday in Accra, Ghana.

Despite this, it dispatched a diplomatic mission to Niamey on Saturday under the leadership of former Nigerian president Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The delegation members were seen on Niger television shaking hands with Bazoum, who is still being held captive.

The conversation between Abubakar and Tiani was also captured on camera, but the details of their conversation have not been made public.

Tiani claimed in his televised speech on Saturday that ECOWAS was "getting ready to attack Niger by setting up an occupying army in collaboration with a foreign army," but he did not specify which nation he was referring to.

He continued, though, "If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park some people seem to think."

In addition, Tiani announced a 30-day "national dialogue" period during which "concrete proposals" would be developed to lay the groundwork for "a new constitutional life."

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Following Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali as the other three West African countries to suffer a coup since 2020, ECOWAS leaders claim they must now take action As a last resort, the bloc has agreed to dispatch a "standby force" to Niger in order to reestablish democracy.

Al-Qaeda and Daesh-related insurgencies are becoming more prevalent in the Sahel region, which is struggling. Frustration over the violence has been used as a justification for the military coups.