This is CBS Eye on the World with John Batchler. Here's John Batchler.

I'm John Batchler, my colleague and co-host, that is McCarter American Greatness.

And we're very pleased to welcome Malcolm Homeline. We begin our tale of threat in Niger.

This is the Sahil, the shores of the Sahara.

Since 2020, there have been a string of military coups across the Sahil.

Right now, the one in focus is Niger, and Niger means uranium mines.

The story is that the president was surprised that his presidential guard was taking control of the compound,

and the president retreated into his safe room and made phone calls to his allies.

At the same time, the report is a phone call came from Progozion of the Wagner Group

to the presidential guard that was leading the revolt.

That's where Niger is right now. Malcolm, a very good evening to you.

What do we know about Niger and the risks of the whole region? Good evening to you.

Good evening to you, and it's great to be with both of you.

This is a very important story that gets very little attention.

Africa generally doesn't get much attention, even though this could have far-reaching consequences

beyond the involvement of the Wagner Group, which is important.

And of course, Russia's hand in all of this.

But this is the seventh coup, I think, since 2020.

And several of Niger's neighbors, Mali and Chad, I think, both had revolutions, similar military takeovers.

We have spent $500 million building up an army equipment equipping Niger's military,

but there are forces couldn't meet and weren't prepared for this kind of standard,

which really started as a personnel issue with the removal of the head of the presidential guard,

...