NAIROBI, Kenya – Mali has announced the immediate severance of diplomatic relations with Ukraine, following allegations that Kyiv played a role in last month’s deadly border clashes near Algeria.
The accusations, made by Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, have ignited a fierce backlash from the Malian government.
Yusov’s remarks suggested that Tuareg separatist rebels had been provided with critical information to carry out attacks that resulted in the deaths of dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries.
These attacks occurred during intense fighting in the northeastern town of Tinzaouaten, near the Algerian border, where Malian forces and their Russian allies were ambushed by Tuareg rebels and fighters linked to al-Qaeda.
Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, a top Malian official, expressed shock and outrage at Yusov’s claims, accusing Ukraine of violating Mali’s sovereignty and contributing to the “cowardly, treacherous, and barbaric” attacks.
In a statement, Col Maiga condemned Ukraine’s purported involvement, which he said had led to significant Malian casualties and the loss of a Russian helicopter.
“The Malian government is appalled by these admissions and views them as a direct assault on our nation’s sovereignty and security,” Col Maiga declared. “As a result, we have decided to break off all diplomatic relations with Ukraine, effective immediately.”
The recent clashes in Tinzaouaten have marked one of the deadliest confrontations for both Malian forces and the Wagner Group since the mercenaries began assisting Mali’s military junta in combating insurgent threats two years ago.
Reports suggest that between 20 and 80 Wagner fighters were killed, along with a significant number of Malian soldiers.
The exact death toll remains uncertain, as neither the Malian military nor Wagner’s new entity, the Africa Corps, have provided precise figures.
The Tuareg-led separatists claimed responsibility for the ambush, stating that they had killed 84 Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers.
The recent violence underscores the persistent instability in northern Mali, a region plagued by rebellion and Islamist insurgency for over a decade.
Mali’s security situation has been volatile since the central government lost control of much of the north following a Tuareg rebellion, which evolved into a complex conflict involving various Islamist militant groups.
The military junta, which came to power through coups in 2020 and 2021, cited the previous government’s inability to address the unrest as justification for their takeover.
In a bid to restore order, the junta severed Mali’s long-standing alliance with former colonial power France and turned to Russia for military support.
The presence of Russian mercenaries, however, has done little to stabilize the region, as evidenced by the recent deadly clashes.
