This is CBSI in the world, I'm John Dutch, with loading words worth of geopolitical futures.

A subscription side I highly recommend is analysis of Franca Freak and the long-term relationships

between men who maintain democracy over many decades and Paris, but now with the upset

in several of these countries disinviting France, there is a new presence.

We know it as the Wagner group, these are mercenaries working directly for the Kremlin,

and they're paid in resources in cash, in access to uranium mines in one instance.

And though the story I'm most familiar with, Ronan, as an example of the Central African

Republic, where I believe the Wagner group is the Praetorian Guard for the leadership

there.

Is this a model that it's repeating throughout the Sahil to work directly with the military

and do what's necessary, no rules of engagement to be obeyed?

Absolutely.

So Central African Republic would probably be the prime example of what might be to come

for some of these countries that have left the French sphere of influence and have kicked

out French support for the security.

And Central African Republic, if we go back just a few years, was definitely pro-French,

and then the new president has come in.

He has removed the French and brought in Wagner.

And what has actually happened as a result of that is that the security situation outside

the capital has severely worsened.

Wagner troops were there and stationed particularly just around the capital.

And they have only interest in protecting the government and the seat of power there.

...