I'm John Bachelors with my colleague Gregory Coppley, Defense and Foreign Affairs.

We go to Africa because Gregory has helped me understand that there are themes in Africa that

don't necessarily rule out other themes.

They're co-terminus.

And one theme right now is what used to be the Sahel, the shore of the Sahara,

and democracies, or at least governments that acknowledge democracy,

are flipping, either because of pressure of the jihadists who are operating in the neighborhood, or because, as Gregory remarked, when last we had a conversation, the democracy story wore down and the strong man story was always there.

Huntas at Nijer, for example, or Mali or Burkina Fas Faso and the elite in Nigeria which is not part of the problem right now in the

Sahil although could be part of the solution if he Kowas was more vital.

Gregor I mentioned two reports, random, but they both have Russians in them.

One is that Russia is looking to have at least a hundred of the Africa Corps in Niger and Mali and in Burkina Faso, perhaps a hundred spread out.

In other words, they're mercenaries.

This is not an overwhelming

symmetrical unit. These are something we would call advisors or access to

arms and tactics and perhaps air power. I don't know.

I don't have those details.

Is that in itself, the Africa Corps spreading out on the Sahela,

is that in itself a risk for Africa?

Or is this business as usual? Well, it's not business as usual?

Well, it's not business as usual and that's not necessarily a risk.

What it means is that the states of the region are starting to turn their back on the west, which has been very paternalistic

and judgmental towards them, so they're turning away from that the presence of a few hundred Russian troops scattered

...