Niger military deploys reinforcements to capital after ignoring deadline to cede power

Niger's armed forces have been bringing in reinforcements to the capital to prepare for a potential military intervention, a military source told CNN, just hours after the military junta running the country refused to abide by an influential regional bloc's deadline to cede power.

A convoy of about 40 pick-up trucks arrived at nightfall on Sunday evening, bringing troops from other parts of the country to both reassure a nervous public and prepare for potential battle.

Niger has been engulfed in political chaos since late last month, when President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in a coup d'etat by the presidential guard. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) responded days later by enacting sanctions and issuing an ultimatum to the ruling military junta: stand down within a week or face a potential military intervention.

That deadline came and went Sunday without any change in the political situation. Bazoum remains deposed and his whereabouts are still unknown to the public. The National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, the junta's formal name, is still effectively in charge of Niger. A junta leader said Sunday that Niger's armed forces would be closing the country's airspace due to the threat of military intervention.

What comes next is unclear. ECOWAS leaders say their preference is find a diplomatic solution to the crisis but have maintained they willing to resort to the use of force as a last resort to return Niger's democratically elected government to power. The bloc is set to hold another meeting on the situation on Thursday.

ECOWAS head and former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said Monday that she believes the group will be able to find a resolution to the situation in Niger.

"I really believe that it may seem now that we are headed toward a major crisis, we are headed toward major violence, and conflicts. I believe that the ECOWAS authorities will find a way out of that," Sirleaf told CNN's Isa Soares.