Former Finance Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine has been appointed as the new prime minister by the junta in Niger, Reuters reports.
Meanwhile, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had given the coup leaders until Sunday to step down or potentially face military intervention.
The junta, led by the self-declared head of state General Abdourahamane Tchiani, instead closed the airspace and vowed to defend the country.
Leaders from West Africa are planning a summit to address the Niger junta’s refusal to reinstate the ousted president.