Mali and Niger break off relations with Ukraine, accused of “supporting terrorist groups” in the Sahel

Niger announced on Tuesday August 7 that it was breaking “with immediate effect” its diplomatic relations with Ukraine. Two days earlier, Mali had taken the same decision, accusing kyiv of a “support” Has “terrorist groups” after a heavy defeat for the Malian army at the end of July during fighting with separatists and jihadists. “The government of the Republic of Niger, in full solidarity with the government and people of Mali, decides in all sovereignty (…) to sever diplomatic relations between the Republic of Niger and Ukraine with immediate effect”said Niger government spokesman Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane in a statement read on state television.

In late July, separatists and jihadists claimed to have killed dozens of members of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner and Malian soldiers during fighting in Tinzaouatène, on the Algerian border in the far northeast of the country. The Malian army and the Wagner group acknowledged significant losses, without giving a precise toll. A Ukrainian military intelligence official then implied that kyiv had provided information to the rebels so that they could carry out their attack. “unacceptable remarks”, reacted Amadou Abdramane, expressing the “deep indignation” of the Niger government. The Niger regime also announced on Tuesday “referral to the United Nations Security Council to rule on the Ukrainian aggression.”

Mali, like Niger, led respectively by Colonel Assimi Goïta and General Abdourahamane Tiani, have moved closer to Russia after the rise to power of military regimes hostile to Western countries and are welcoming Russian instructors.

kyiv defended itself through its Foreign Ministry. Ukraine “adheres unconditionally to the norms of international law and reserves the right to take all necessary political and diplomatic measures in response to unfriendly actions”, did he declare.