Niger's military junta leader General Abdourahmane Tchiani (AFP)

The Associated Press cited an official as saying that Niger coup leaders are under pressure from regional sanctions against the country as they refuse to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and claimed that they are "fearful of attacks from France."

Speaking on condition of anonymity after Saturday’s meeting between Niger’s new leaders and a delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the official indicated that the two-hour talks, which were aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the country's crisis, resulted in little clarity on the future steps.

It is noteworthy that this was the first time that General Abdourahmane Tchiani, head of the junta, met with the ECOWAS delegation after previously refusing to do so.

The official pointed out that during the recent talks, Tchiani urged for the lifting of economic and travel sanctions imposed by the West African bloc against the country and stressed that the Nigerien people were suffering as a result of them.

The Associated Press cited the official as saying that Tchiani repeatedly expressed concerns that France was actively planning an attack against Niger.

In the same context, the news agency quoted Seidik Abba, a Nigerien researcher and Sahel specialist, as saying that "ECOWAS and the rest of the international community want to restore President Bazoum and the junta is not on this agenda."

"The next step will be military confrontation … What we don’t know is when this confrontation will take place, how it will go, and what the consequences will be," he considered.

After the meeting, Tchiani assured the Nigerien public that the transitionary period, from military to civilian rule, would not last for more than three years. He also announced a 30-day period of "national dialogue" to gather concrete proposals for the establishment of a new constitutional framework.

"I am convinced that we will find solutions to all the challenges we face and that we will work together to find a way out of the crisis, in the interests of all," he indicated during a televised address.

Tchiani warned against any potential attack on the nation, saying, "If an attack were to be undertaken against us, it will not be the walk in the park some people seem to think."

He also accused ECOWAS of preparing to launch an attack on Niger by collaborating with a foreign army to establish an occupying force, though he did not specify the foreign country in question.

A couple of days ago, ECOWAS announced that it had agreed on a 'D-Day' for the possible military attack against Niger, aimed at allegedly "restoring democracy" in Niger, according to the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah.

Musah, following the conclusion of the two-day meeting of West African ECOWAS army chiefs in Accra, Ghana, said, "We are ready to go anytime the order is given," adding that "The D-Day is also decided."

An ECOWAS official confirmed that out of the 15 ECOWAS member states, only Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, and tiny Cape Verde have refused to engage in any possible upcoming attack against Niger.