Mali breaks off diplomatic relations with Ukraine
The Ukrainian intelligence agency supports rebels in Mali in their fight against government troops and Wagner troops. Recently, dozens of mercenaries and soldiers have died in clashes. The African state holds Kyiv responsible and takes a drastic step.
Mali has immediately severed its diplomatic relations with Ukraine. This was announced by the spokesperson of the transitional government, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, on Sunday. The reason given by Bamako is that a high-ranking Ukrainian official has admitted Kyiv's involvement in a heavy defeat of the Malian army and the Russian paramilitary group Wagner at the end of July in the north of the country.
Rebels claimed to have killed 84 Wagner mercenaries and 47 government soldiers in clashes near the Algerian border between July 25 and 27. The Malian army acknowledged that it suffered a "large number" of casualties in the north of the country.
The Ukrainian military intelligence agency HUR claimed to have supported the Tuareg rebels in the north of Mali in a battle against the Russian mercenaries of the Wagner group with information. "We will certainly not speak about the details at this time, but we will continue," said HUR spokesperson Andrij Jussow to the Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne a few days ago.
The Malian rebel movement stated about a week ago that it had captured armored vehicles, trucks, and fuel tankers, and killed and injured dozens of soldiers and Wagner mercenaries in clashes at the border with Algeria on Thursday and Friday.
The military leadership of the West African country, which came to power through a coup in 2020, has set itself the goal of recapturing the country from separatists and jihadist groups. The military leaders in Bamako have relied on the Russian mercenary group Wagner in recent years, which is active in numerous states worldwide as an extension of the Kremlin.
The Malian government is considering further action against Ukraine due to the alleged involvement of the Ukrainian Secret Service in supporting rebels. The Ukrainian Secret Service, specifically its military intelligence agency HUR, has admitted to providing information to the Tuareg rebels in their fight against Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group.
