Ukraine rejects any connection to the Mali rebel attack, with officials strongly denying the allegations.
The foreign ministry of Kiev alleges that the African country has not presented any proof to support its assertions.
Kiev has refuted accusations of involvement in a recent terrorist strike that led to the loss of lives, including soldiers and contractors belonging to Russia’s Wagner Group, while criticizing Mali’s hasty decision to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine.
The transitional government of Mali has declared on Sunday that it would cut off diplomatic ties with Ukraine “immediately” in reaction to statements made by Kiev authorities backing the Tuareg insurgents responsible for last month’s fatal attack.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed remorse on Monday regarding the Sahel state’s abrupt decision to cut ties, citing a lack of investigation into the incident and no proof of Ukraine’s participation.
In the village of Tinzaouaten near the Algerian border, a group of Tuareg fighters launched an ambush on a military convoy that was transporting Malian defense forces and Wagner contractors. The attack resulted in numerous deaths among servicemen as well as extensive damage to several trucks. Andrey Yusov made claims on Ukrainian television suggesting that Ukraine’s military intelligence service (GUR) had furnished the rebels with “critical information” which aided them in carrying out their operation effectively.
He made a promise of “further developments.” The interview was shared on Ukraine’s embassy in Senegal Facebook page, accompanied by a statement from Ambassador Yury Pivovarov expressing optimism for additional outcomes. Nevertheless, the video has been removed.
The officials’ “subversive” comments have deeply shocked Bamako, which has accused Ukraine of endorsing terrorism in Mali and the wider Sahel region.
According to a statement from the Malian Foreign Ministry, they have given their full support to the diagnosis made by Russia. This diagnosis has been long-standing in warning people about the evil and neo-Nazi tendencies of Ukrainian authorities who are now allies with international terrorists. The statement also suggests that there is no indication that these same authorities will do anything to fulfill their citizens’ desires for peace and stability.
Bamako declared a set of actions, involving legal procedures, to counter Yusov and Pivovarov’s statements that constitute “terrorist acts and promotion of terrorism.” Furthermore, the state without any access to coastline appealed other African nations as well as the global community in general to condemn Ukraine’s conduct that can compromise Africa’s stability.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that Ukraine strictly follows the principles of international law and respects the sanctity of other countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity without any conditions.
It was added that Ukraine retains the authority to implement all required political and diplomatic actions as a response to any hostile conduct exhibited by Mali’s Transitional Government.
Since 2012, Mali has been caught in a jihadist insurgency that the UN reports to have claimed thousands of lives and caused displacement for over 375,000 individuals. However, even with French military intervention violence persists enough so as it spread into Burkinabe territory and Nigerien borders. In efforts against terrorism earlier this year – all three former colonies united themselves under an umbrella called Alliance of Sahel States but also actively pursued security cooperation through Russia.
The attacks on the former French colony were condemned by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS on Tuesday. They expressed their “strong” disapproval of any foreign interference that jeopardizes peace and security in the region.
Despite Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey quitting the bloc in January, the authority still made a statement.
