Mali, Niger cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine over attack on Malian soldiers

Malian Transitional President Assimi Goïta in St. Petersburg, with President Vladimir Putin, July 29, 2023. A recent claim by a Ukrainian government official that the country helped Tuareg rebels to massacre Russian forces and Malian troops in Mali has led to diplomatic cutoffs by Mali and some neighboring countries.

August 13 2024

The military juntas of Mali and Niger have each cut diplomatic relations with Ukraine, after they determined that Kyiv was involved in an operation supporting Tuareg rebels in the north of Mali. The insurgency last month led to the killing of 47 Malian soldiers, and 84 Russian military contractors.

Ukraine Foreign Ministry has denied involvement in the attack.  Responding to the Kyiv Independent’s question on the diplomatic work needed after the two West African nations cut ties, Tykhyi said that “it is clear that these decisions were not made by these countries alone.” He described Mali’s decision as “hasty” and “regrettable” and said Mali’s transitional government has not provided evidence proving Ukraine’s involvement in the incidents between Wagner mercenaries and Tuareg rebels.

The Tuareg attack caused a diplomatic conflict between Ukraine, Mali and Niger (photo: Getty Images)

Niger severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine two days after Mali, referring to “Ukrainian aggression.” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry responded that Niger’s accusations “do not withstand any criticism, are groundless and untrue.”

“Mali was the first, Niger was the second to follow Russia’s lead,” Tykhyi told a Kyiv Independent reporter at the press briefing.

“We are all well aware of these countries’ dependence on Russia and their overall ties with Russia,” he added.

According to Tykhyi, “this is part of Russian narrative and propaganda – to create an image that Ukraine is allegedly involved in terrorism.”

“We regret that these two countries made a rash, short-sighted decision without studying the causes of the incident in northern Mali and without providing substantial evidence or grounds for such a step,” Tykhyi said.

Tykhyi emphasized that the decisions to cut ties “will not significantly impact the development of Ukraine’s relations with African countries.”

“Ukraine, unlike Russia, is not looking for ways to hook them” and offer goods or services in order to “control these countries,” Tykhyi added.

Ukraine also has experience in digitalization and developing digital public services, something that African countries are interested in, according to Tykhyi.

Photo: Contributor/Getty Images

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