THE military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have jointly addressed the United Nations Security Council, accusing Ukraine of providing support to rebel groups operating in the Sahel region of West Africa, according to a statement from Mali’s foreign ministry.
This move follows the severing of diplomatic ties between Mali and Ukraine in early August, prompted by comments made by Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency. Yusov’s remarks referred to recent clashes in northern Mali that resulted in the deaths of Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner mercenaries in late July. Yusov suggested that Malian ‘rebels’ had received critical information necessary for conducting a successful military operation.
The governments of Mali and Niger interpreted Yusov’s statements as an admission of Ukraine’s direct involvement in the conflict, leading to accusations that Ukraine was supporting international terrorism. Niger, in solidarity with Mali, also severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine days later.
Ukraine has consistently denied these allegations, labelling them as baseless and unfounded. The Ukrainian foreign ministry has yet to comment on the latest developments. The country remains embroiled in intense conflict with Russia, more than two years after Moscow’s invasion.
In response to the accusations, a Tuareg rebel alliance operating in northern Mali also denied receiving any support from Ukraine. Both Tuareg separatists and jihadist insurgents are active in the region, with the Tuareg rebels claiming responsibility for killing at least 84 Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers during fierce battles in July. Additionally, an al-Qaeda affiliate reported killing 50 Wagner mercenaries and 10 Malian soldiers in a separate ambush during the same period.
In their letter to the UN Security Council, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger called on the international body to ‘take responsibility’ for Ukraine’s alleged actions and to prevent ‘subversive acts’ that could destabilise the region and the continent as a whole. The letter’s contents were shared on social media by Mali’s foreign ministry, and diplomats confirmed that it was circulated among the 15-member Security Council on Tuesday evening.
In recent years, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have increasingly distanced themselves from traditional Western and regional allies, instead aligning with Russia since their military juntas seized power over the past four years.
The July attacks in northern Mali’s Kidal region, near the border with Algeria, represent one of Wagner’s most significant defeats since its involvement began two years ago in support of the Malian junta’s efforts to combat jihadist insurgents.
The Tuareg people, an ethnic group native to the Sahara region, including parts of northern Mali, have a long history of separatist movements. In 2012, Tuareg-led separatists launched a rebellion in Mali, which was subsequently overtaken by Islamist militant groups and pushed back into the arid north.
Credit: Africabreifing
