Several thousand people gathered in Niger's capital Niamey, in a show of support for the junta-led country's imminent departure, along with Burkina Faso and Mali, from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which takes effect on Wednesday 29 January. The three countries have teamed up to form a separate confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). "We would like to say to the Westerners who are behind Ecowas and who have turned Ecowas into mercenaries to fight the countries of the AES, Allah willing, they will not succeed," says Hassane Garba Soumaila, a participant at the rally. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES