Russia has accused Ukraine of escalating the conflict between the two nations by allegedly supporting “terrorist groups” in Africa, leading to diplomatic breaks with Mali and Niger. The accusations followed recent developments where both West African nations cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine, citing its purported involvement in attacks against their military forces.
On Tuesday, Niger’s junta announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Ukraine, aligning with a similar move by Mali two days earlier. Both governments accused Ukraine of providing support to groups responsible for recent deadly clashes in Mali, where Tuareg rebels claimed to have killed dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner mercenaries. These allegations were prompted by remarks from Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence, suggesting Ukrainian involvement in providing information that aided the rebels.
#Russia / #Ukraine / #Mali (#Sahel) 🇷🇺🇺🇦🇲🇱: Andriy Yusov (spokesman of Ukrainian Intel, #GUR) stated that information was provided to #Tuareg rebels to attack the #Wagner Group in #Kidal.
Also #Azawad rebels released a photo with Ukrainian combatants —and Ukrainian Flag.
Group… pic.twitter.com/6PhU95J0Ie
— War Noir (@war_noir) July 29, 2024
Amadou Abdramane, a spokesperson for Niger’s military government, declared that the country was cutting ties with Ukraine “with immediate effect,” in solidarity with Mali. He condemned Yusov’s comments as “subversive and unacceptable,” further stating that Niger would bring the issue before the United Nations Security Council to address Ukraine’s alleged aggression.
The diplomatic rift signifies a broader realignment in West Africa, where several nations, including Mali and Niger, have distanced themselves from traditional Western alliances in favor of closer ties with Russia. This shift has seen these countries turning to Russia for military support, particularly through the involvement of the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry denied the allegations, labeling Mali’s decision to cut ties as “short-sighted and hasty” and affirming that Ukraine adheres to international law. Despite this, Ukraine has not yet issued an official response to Niger’s actions.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s regime of “pandering to terrorist groups in countries on the continent friendly to Moscow.” She claimed that Ukraine’s actions in Africa were an attempt to compensate for its inability to defeat Russia on the battlefield.
The conflict in Mali has seen intense fighting, particularly in late July near the Mali-Algeria border, where Tuareg-led separatists reported significant casualties among Wagner fighters and Malian soldiers. Mali’s military regime, which has faced severe security challenges, has increasingly relied on Wagner’s support since severing ties with France in 2021.
In response to the diplomatic fallout, Senegal’s foreign ministry summoned Ukrainian ambassador Yurii Pyvovarov over a video that allegedly showed him expressing support for the attacks in Mali.Â
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