By John Ikani
The military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have formally accused Ukraine of backing rebel factions in West Africa’s Sahel region.
According to Mali’s foreign ministry, the accusation was lodged in a letter to the U.N. Security Council.
Earlier in August, Mali severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine following statements by Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence.
Yusov had mentioned that “rebels” in Mali received crucial information leading to a “successful military operation” in late July.
The operation resulted in the deaths of Malian soldiers and mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group. Niger’s military government also cut ties with Ukraine in a show of solidarity with Mali.
Both Mali and Niger saw Yusov’s comments as proof of Ukraine’s direct involvement in the conflict and accused the country of supporting international terrorism. Ukraine has consistently denied these allegations.
A Tuareg rebel alliance also denied receiving any support from Ukraine. Both Tuareg separatists and jihadist insurgents are active in northern Mali.
The Tuareg claimed responsibility for killing at least 84 Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers during intense fighting in July.
An al Qaeda affiliate also claimed to have killed 50 Wagner mercenaries and 10 Malian soldiers in an ambush during the same period.
In their letter to the Security Council, the foreign ministers of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso urged the council to “take responsibility” for Ukraine’s actions and prevent any “subversive acts” that could threaten regional and continental stability.
The letter was shared on Mali’s foreign ministry’s social media and circulated to the 15 members of the Security Council.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have all shifted their alliances away from traditional Western and regional partners towards Russia since their respective military juntas took power in recent years.
The July attacks, which occurred in Mali’s northern Kidal region near the Algerian border, represent a potentially significant setback for the Wagner Group. They stepped in two years ago to assist the junta in its fight against jihadist insurgents.
The Tuareg people are a distinct group inhabiting the Sahara region, including parts of northern Mali.
A Tuareg-led separatist rebellion began in 2012 but was eventually pushed back into Mali’s northern desert and later overtaken by Islamist militant groups.
