I was under the impression that there were some Wagner guys had been in the area already, fighting jihadist groups. Any confirmation as to whether or not that's still the case?
This was my takeaway but this has me second guessing. I've just spent a bit of time looking and I can't confirm their presence in Niger. I can confirm it in both Mali and Burkina Faso though.
Wagner has always seemed like quite a fluid entity to me that could go anywhere they were welcome. my assumption was that there probably wasn't Wagner presence in Niger before the coup due to French influence but they might step in if called by the new government. no idea if that's actually what will happen unless a war kicks off though.
I was under the impression that there were some Wagner guys had been in the area already, fighting jihadist groups. Any confirmation as to whether or not that's still the case?
This was my takeaway but this has me second guessing. I've just spent a bit of time looking and I can't confirm their presence in Niger. I can confirm it in both Mali and Burkina Faso though.
Wagner has always seemed like quite a fluid entity to me that could go anywhere they were welcome. my assumption was that there probably wasn't Wagner presence in Niger before the coup due to French influence but they might step in if called by the new government. no idea if that's actually what will happen unless a war kicks off though.
Wagner bois, wandering into a war zone. "Oh boy, we just love killin'!"