Ukraine is trying to gain support from countries in Africa, but some West African nations are moving closer to Russia. Russia has accused Ukraine of opening a new front in their conflict by seeking support in Africa. This accusation came after Niger and Mali ended their diplomatic relations with Ukraine, claiming that Ukraine supports “terrorist groups.”
Niger’s military government announced on Tuesday that it had severed ties with Ukraine immediately. This decision follows Mali’s recent move to cut relations with Kyiv, blaming Ukraine for an attack by Tuareg rebels that resulted in the deaths of Wagner mercenaries and Malian soldiers.
Ukraine’s military spokesperson, Andriy Yusov, claimed that the Malian rebels had received vital information for their attack. In response, Niger’s government expressed shock and anger at Yusov’s comments and plans to ask the UN Security Council to discuss Ukraine’s alleged actions.
On Monday, Ukraine criticized Mali’s decision as impulsive and rejected the claim that it supports terrorism. Niger and Mali, both ruled by military governments from recent coups, have shifted their alliances from France to Russia for military aid.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of trying to open a new conflict in Africa because it couldn’t defeat Russia on the battlefield. She claimed Ukraine is supporting terrorist groups in countries that are friendly to Moscow.
Intense fighting occurred near the Mali-Algeria border in July, with Tuareg separatists reporting high casualties among Wagner fighters and Malian soldiers. Niger, Mali, and other West African countries have criticized Ukraine’s ambassador to several countries for supporting the attack in Mali.
This diplomatic fallout is a major setback for Ukraine’s efforts to gain international support while defending itself against Russia’s invasion and expanding its influence in the Global South.