West African army chiefs are wrapping up two days of talks in Ghana's capital, Accra, to discuss the possibility of a military intervention in Niger following a recent coup. The military officers overthrew Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, and despite international calls for his reinstatement, they have refused to do so.

In response, regional powers have ordered a standby force to be assembled. The discussions in Accra have focused on logistics and other aspects of a potential deployment.

The use of force is considered a last resort, but if necessary, West African forces are ready to respond. The members of the standby force include most of the West African bloc's 15 member states, with the exception of Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Cape Verde, which are also under military rule.

A military intervention in Niger would further destabilize the already troubled Sahel region, which is grappling with a long-standing Islamist insurgency. In addition to regional security concerns, Niger holds strategic importance due to its reserves of uranium and oil, as well as its role as a hub for foreign troops involved in the fight against insurgent groups linked to al Qaeda and ISIS.