A coup in Niger, Putin's Wagner group in Africa.

0:00 Speaker 1 What is today is David Ada is the international defense and security expert, director of the Geneva Center for Africa and remember to Pave the Way Foundation, a director along with me, and he’s been calling us about what’s going on in Niger in Africa and David give us an updated.

0:24 Speaker 2 Yes. So what the situation is now in the Je Republic is that the Economic Community of West African State, which is the echoas the regional bloc, had made a decision that it will you know, activate its stand by force and it would deploy the stand white force into Niger to restore constitutional order. And you remember this is

0:53 after the Kudeta which happened on the twenty sixth of July. The military junta in the JI has refused to reinstate the President Basu who was deposed. They have refused to welcome some of the ECHO as member states for dialogue.

1:15 But I think we have in progress now, I have to say, because the military junta has agreed after some mediation. And again this is tanks to the same method that we use that Paved the Way Foundation, where we make sure that you know, we we can intercede between parties that don’t talk to each other. So right now, the

1:39 military johnt that through one of the religious organizations that have been in contact with here in Africa, they managed to secure a dialogue process, you know, with the Echoa. So we have that we will find some resolution. We are hoping that at this point in time would be no military intervention. We’re also hoping that the United States

2:05 will take a ten position and you know, make sure that it keeps its position in the jeer because of course this is of national interest, you know, to the United States. They’ve spent tell.

2:19 Speaker 1 Us, David billion, tell us how many nations has the Wagner Group been influential in in raising the Russian flag?

2:30 Speaker 2 Yes, so so far, what we’re saying is that Waina Group has been in about six or seven African nations. Prominently they’ve been in Central African Republic, in Mali, in Bolkino, Faso, in Mozambique, in Sudan, and right now the head of Wagner Guinni to Govin, has made it very clear that you know, they will support the military junta in the

2:57 j and and this of course means that if there is a vacuum, if the US maybe doesn’t take a pen position, if there is a vacuum, then of course whatner is going to exploit that vacuum. So it’s very critical that you know, the US makes sure that it’s not lose its position in this part of the country,

3:21 that it you know, speaks about peace with the government of Megere and get them, you know, to hold democratic elections so that you know, we do not have a situation where you know, a private military contractors like what would take advantage of the chaos.

3:38 Speaker 1 Understood understood and and you you feel that things are going to get under control the next few weeks or you think that that are you worried?

3:52 Speaker 2 Yes, so we think that the current situation is that echo AS, which is the visional body you know, will have a stand by force in future which could be deployed if there is any signs of a military coup.

4:09 But right now, we do not think that it is necessary to deploy any military forces in there republic because for once, the government is willing to negotiate. But also we know that military intervention there is no guarantee that there would be a mission success. We also know that it could bring you know, terrible consequences to the region,

4:34 and it could also affect the American interest in this part of the country. So we prefer that there could be some negotiations, a win win situation, you know, where both the people of Migere and any of that external party you know, could have some peace to continue to operate in that region.

4:56 Speaker 1 Well, thank you David Atto for giving us a report on what going on in Africa. Please keep us informed and we’ll put you on anything anything significant, will put you on right away.

5:09 Speaker 2 Thank you very much, Thank you very much. Let’s break all pagram. Thank you, thank you.