West African juntas demand UN condemnation of Ukraine's alleged support for rebels

ZIMSPHERE

BAMAKO – The military juntas of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have formally expressed their disapproval of Ukraine's alleged support for rebel groups in the turbulent Sahel region. In a letter addressed to the United Nations Security Council, the juntas urged an express condemnation of Ukraine's actions, according to Mali's foreign ministry.

Heads of state of Mali, Assimi Goita, Niger, General Abdourahamane Tiani and Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore. [Image: Reuters/Mahamadou Hamidou
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This diplomatic shift follows the severing of ties between the juntas and Ukraine. The decision was triggered by remarks from Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence, who acknowledged Ukraine’s provision of intelligence to rebels engaged in conflict in northern Mali.

Those clashes resulted in the deaths of Malian soldiers and mercenaries from the Russian Wagner Group in late July, prompting Yusov to defend Ukraine’s actions as a stand against "Russian war criminals."

In immediate response to Yusov’s statements, Mali condemned Ukraine's purported "support for international terrorism" and described it as "blatant aggression." Niger swiftly followed Mali's lead, severing its own diplomatic ties in a show of solidarity.

In all this, Ukraine has absolved itself from any wrongdoing, labelling the allegations of interference with the juntas' sovereignty as unfounded and shrouded in untruths.

In their communication to the Security Council, the foreign ministers of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso called for the international body to "take responsibility" for Ukraine's actions and to thwart any "subversive acts" that endanger both regional and continental stability. The letter, announcing these demands, was disseminated via the Malian foreign ministry’s social media account and circulated among the Security Council's 15 member states on Tuesday evening.

Since the juntas assumed power over the past four years, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have increasingly leaned towards Russia, distancing themselves from traditional Western and regional allies.

The July attacks in Mali's northern Kidal region, located near the Algerian border, mark a potentially significant defeat for the Wagner Group.

The group's involvement, which started two years ago to assist the junta in combating jihadist insurgents, has been called into question following these developments.

These shifting geopolitical incidents have elicited concerns about the potential spillover of the Russia-Ukraine conflict into Africa, further complicating the already fragile security landscape of the Sahel region—perennially beset with conflict.

(with news agencies)