Mali has severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine, accusing a senior official of having admitted Kyiv’s role in a heavy defeat in July that killed dozens of mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group as well as Malian soldiers.
The northern Tuareg rebels say they killed at least 84 mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers over three days of fighting late last month in the north of the West African country, in what appeared to be Wagner’s heaviest defeat since it stepped into the conflict two years ago. Mali also lost two helicopters in the attack.
On July 29, Andriy Yusov, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (GUR), told the media that Malian rebels had received “all the information they needed, which allowed [them] to carry out their operation against the Russian war criminals”.
Mali said it had learned “with deep shock” of the remarks and that Yusov had “admitted Ukraine’s involvement in a cowardly, treacherous and barbaric attack by armed terrorist groups that resulted in the death of members of the Malian Defence and Security Forces”.
It said it would break off relations “with immediate effect”, a statement from government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga said.
Mali also cited comments by Ukraine’s Ambassador to Senegal Yurii Pyvovarov, who was summoned by Senegal on Saturday over a video published on Facebook in which Pyvovarov provided “unequivocal and unqualified support for the terrorist attack” in Mali.
Ukraine’s actions violated Malian sovereignty and constituted unacceptable foreign interference and support for international terrorism, according to Colonel Maiga.
Nigér cut ties with Ukraine
Also, Niger’s junta on Tuesday cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine over remarks from officials it said showed Ukraine’s support for groups involved in fighting in neighbouring Mali that killed dozens of soldiers and Russian Wagner fighters in July.
The move follows Mali’s decision on Sunday to sever relations with Kyiv.
“The Government of the Republic of Niger, in full solidarity with the Government and people of Mali, has decided, relying on its sovereignty, to sever diplomatic relations between the Republic of Niger and Ukraine. This decision comes into force immediately,” government spokesman Abdourahamane Amadou said late on August 6 in a televised address.
The incident appeared to be Wagner’s heaviest defeat since it stepped in two years ago to help Mali’s military authorities fight insurgent groups.
In a televised address, spokesperson Abdourahamane Amadou said Niger had decided to act in solidarity with the government and people of Mali by cutting ties with Ukraine with immediate effect.
Ukraine denies involvement in Mali attack
Ukraine on Monday denied any involvement in northern Mali fighting that led to the death of Malian soldiers and Wagner fighters in July, describing Mali’s decision to sever diplomatic ties over the incident as “short-sighted and hasty”.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry on Monday expressed regret over the decision made by Mali’s transitional government, saying that it was done without a thorough study of the incident’s facts and circumstances.
“Ukraine unconditionally adheres to the norms of international law, the inviolability of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries,” it said in a statement.
West Africa nations condemns Ukraine’s action
Niger, Mali and others in West Africa have also condemned comments about the fighting by Ukraine’s ambassador to Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast and Liberia.
This week, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed his support for Bamako in a telephone call with his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop.
The West African nation’s military seized power in a 2020 coup and has made it a priority to retake the country from separatists and hardline groups linked to al-Qaeda and the ISIL (ISIS) group.
They have also moved closer to Russia, and Wagner has been operating in Mali since late 2021, replacing French troops and international peacekeepers.
Following military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in recent years, the juntas have expelled French and U.S forces and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance.