Ukraine has emerged as a key player in the conflict between Malian military, Russian mercenaries and Tuareg rebels in Mali. A senior Ukrainian intelligence official recently claimed that Ukraine provided crucial intelligence to the rebels, leading to a military operation that killed Malian national soldiers.
The Tuareg Azawad rebels are known to be affiliated with Al-Qaida jihadists, JNIM Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin terrorists.
Late last week, heavy fighting erupted between Malian soldiers, Wagner Group mercenaries and Tuareg rebels in northern Mali. The clash resulted in significant losses for the Russian outfit, with dozens of Malian soldiers killed, as well as a national Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters destroyed. Among the casualties were Wagner Group commander Sergey Shevchenko and Nikita Fedyanin, owner of the Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel Grey Zone.
The Tuareg rebels, part of a coalition known as the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD), claimed victory over both Malian troops and Wagner Group forces. According to a Tuareg commander, 54 Wagner fighters and seven Malian soldiers lost their lives. However, the exact number of casualties among Wagner Group fighters remains uncertain.
The Kyiv Post on Monday published a photograph it said showed Malian rebels holding a Ukrainian flag, which it said had been authenticated by a defence source in Kyiv. It was not possible to verify the image independently.
Africa emerges as the new battleground between Russia and Ukraine, as both countries seek partners and support from African nations, the consequences of their rivalry extend well beyond their immediate regions, and is being felt in Africa.
Ukraine’s Involvement
Andrii Yusov, spokesman for Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency, hinted at Ukraine’s role in the operation. He stated that “the rebels received necessary information, and not just information, which enabled a successful military operation against Russian war criminals.” While Yusov did not disclose specific details, he emphasized that more information would be forthcoming.
Mali, a country plagued by insurgencies for over a decade, sought assistance from Russia’s Wagner Group after a military junta took power in 2020. However, the situation escalated when the US imposed sanctions on the head of Wagner in Mali, accusing the group of using its operations there as a conduit for military equipment destined for the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Influence in Africa
Ukrainian forces are believed to be active in Sudan, another theater where Wagner troops have been heavily involved in combat. Exclusive videos allegedly show Ukrainian special forces interrogating captured Wagner mercenaries in Sudan, revealing their mission to overthrow the Sudanese government. Additionally, Ukrainian drones have reportedly targeted “Russian mercenaries” and their local allies in Sudan. A similar attack happened in Libya.
The Kyiv Post cited sources in the Ukrainian special services, who said that the operation was aimed at destroying Russian mercenaries and their local terrorist partners in Sudan. The sources claimed that the operation was likely the work of Ukrainian special forces.
The Wagner Group, founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin—an associate of Vladimir Putin—serves as Moscow’s unofficial intervention force in conflicts worldwide. Despite Prigozhin’s failed coup attempt last summer (which led to his death in a mysterious plane explosion), Wagner’s influence in Africa persists. Russia continues to encounter a “Ukrainian trace” in many of its defeats on the African continent.
The Mali government, which has been fighting various insurgencies in the north of the country for more than a decade, requested help from Wagner after a military junta took power in 2020.
In May last year, the US imposed sanctions on the head of Wagner in Mali, accusing the group of using its operation there as a conduit for military equipment for the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s involvement in Mali’s conflict underscores the global dimensions of its ongoing battle with Russia. As Ukraine confronts Russia in its ongoing conflict, the echoes of this struggle have reached far beyond Eastern Europe into Africa.
Ukraine’s involvement in attacking Wagner forces in Africa signifies a limited yet noteworthy expansion of the Ukrainian conflict. While Ukraine’s footprint in Africa may be relatively small, the ability to strike Wagner targets indicates the agency’s far-reaching capabilities, potentially extending to operations on other foreign battlefields.
