Is Russia involved in Niger coup through Wagner Group? Here's what experts say

livemint.com:

CNN. In the pro-junta rallies, many people were holding Russian flags, and anti-French slogans were raised. According to BBC, a Niger businessman proudly wore an outfit in the colors of the Russian flag.

The hostility towards the West and inclination towards Russia is raising questions about the possible involvement of Russia in the coup. “Yes, there seems to be a great degree of instability in the entire region of Sahel where one by one we are looking at these coups happening and the instability spreading, the rise of the Islamist groups, etc. I think the role Wagner Group is playing is not evident but increasingly as France is getting blamed for mal-governance and not being able to manage Islamist groups, the void of being filled by the Wagner Group and in the guise of Wagner Group, Russia," Professor Harsh V.

Pant Vice President – Studies and Foreign Policy at Observer Research Foundation told LiveMint. “It is not entirely clear how the entry of Russia in this part of the world helps whether in resolving the governance issues or in managing the Islamists, but I think the institutional failures of democratic governments to deliver is opening up the space for all kinds of groups to emerge and for groups like Wagner to play an important role. In that context perhaps the growing influence of Russia would not be a surprise in the region," he added.