Our defence and security analyst Professor Michael Clarke also explores the mercenaries' presence, warning they could add to instability in the region. On the Sky News Daily podcast, our Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir tells Sally Lockwood that Wagner exploits existing fractures and could "just slip in and fill the cracks". It is unclear, however, whether the new military leadership is going to shift towards Moscow or seek to stick with Niger's Western allies. Protesters in the West African nation have been waving the Russian flag and Vladimir Putin is understood to have a desire to extend his influence in the country. The mercenaries also have a presence in Niger, where a military junta recently seized power in a coup. Earlier, former UK commander General Sir Richard Barrons suggested the Wagner Group could be "coming back in favour" with Russia - after reports it's building a tent city for fighters in Belarus, close to Ukraine's border.
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