On Sunday, Mali announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Ukraine following the publication of a video on the Facebook page of the Ukrainian embassy in Dakar. The video supported the deadly attacks against the Malian army and its Russian allies that took place in Tinzaouatene, northern Mali, from July 25 to 27, 2024.
These clashes involved Malian armed forces and their Russian allies from the Africa Corps (Wagner) against rebels from the Permanent Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad (CSP-PDS) and jihadists from the Group for Supporting Islam and Muslims (GSIM).
Mali’s transitional government decided to « immediately sever its diplomatic relations with Ukraine, » stated government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga.
The Malian government expressed its « deep astonishment » upon learning of remarks made by Andriy Yusov, spokesman for the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, who allegedly admitted Ukraine’s involvement in « a cowardly, treacherous, and barbaric attack by armed terrorist groups that resulted in the death of members of the Malian Defense and Security Forces in Tinzaouatene, as well as material damage, » Mr. Maïga denounced in a statement.
« That the rebels received the necessary data to successfully carry out an operation against Russian war criminals has been observed by the entire world. Of course, we will not disclose details. More information to come, » Mr. Yusov had declared on Ukrainian television, in a video shared by the Ukrainian ambassador to Senegal.
The Malian government considers these actions to be « a violation of Mali’s sovereignty, exceeding the scope of foreign interference, and constituting support for international terrorism. »