Mali Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Ukraine Over Alleged Involvement in Attack
- Mali accuses Ukraine of aiding in a deadly attack against Malian soldiers and Wagner mercenaries.
- Over 130 casualties reported in the conflict, marking Wagner’s heaviest defeat in Mali.
- Diplomatic relations severed immediately following the accusations.
Mali has announced it is severing diplomatic ties with Ukraine, accusing a senior Ukrainian official of admitting Kyiv’s role in a July attack that resulted in the deaths of dozens of Russian Wagner mercenaries and Malian soldiers. The northern Tuareg rebels claimed responsibility for the assault, reporting the deaths of at least 84 mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers over three days of intense fighting near the Algerian border.
On July 29, Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, publicly stated that Malian rebels had received crucial information enabling their successful operation against the Russian forces. In response, Mali expressed outrage over the remarks, condemning Ukraine’s involvement as a “cowardly, treacherous, and barbaric attack” that violated Malian sovereignty and supported international terrorism.
The decision to cut diplomatic ties was confirmed by government spokesman Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, who cited additional comments from Ukraine’s Ambassador to Senegal, Yurii Pyvovarov. Pyvovarov had voiced support for the rebels’ actions in a Facebook video, further aggravating the situation.
Mali’s army acknowledged significant casualties during the clashes but did not release specific figures. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated his support for Mali in a phone call with Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop. The West African nation, which has been under military rule since a 2020 coup, has strengthened ties with Russia and employed Wagner mercenaries to replace French troops and international peacekeepers since late 2021.
Despite accusations of Wagner’s involvement in civilian attacks, Malian authorities have denied these allegations. The mercenary group continues to play a significant role in the country’s efforts to reclaim territories from separatists and extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL.
