Hans-Jakob Schindler, director of the Counter-Extremism Project think tank, pointed to the failure of neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali in their "indifference" towards their faraway northern regions. "You need to reassure the civilian population so that they see you as an ally, not as a threat," said Schindler.

"The government of Niger has asked the U.S. military to leave — even though there’s a critical drone base there that’s keeping terrorism in check. On this week’s edition of “The Hunt with WTOP national security correspondent JJ Green,” Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director at the Counter Extremism Project, breaks down the consequences."

"The Counter Extremism Project’s Riza Kumar warned: 'Wagner’s violent activities are increasing ammunition for violent extremist groups in their recruiting efforts across the Sahel. Whether or not Wagner establishes formal ties with Burkina Faso and Niger, the PMC’s impact is being felt across the region.

'As violent extremist groups expand their geographical scope, they have the potential to influence the communities on the border areas and potentially persuade them to see Wagner as predatorial rather than protective.'"

CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler interviewed: "There is ample evidence that the both al-Qaeda as well as the Islamic State affiliates that operate in West Africa are trying to take advantage of this situation. There has been just a couple of hours ago another major attack in the border area between Niger and Mali, admittedly by the coup government, by terrorist organizations. So the instability in Niger is a really important brick out of the regional counterterrorism operations."