Algeria Mali breaks off relations with Ukraine after rebel attack

Following a rebel attack that left dozens of soldiers and Russian mercenaries dead, Mali has broken off diplomatic relations with Ukraine. This was announced by the Malian transitional government on Sunday evening.

A representative of the Ukrainian military intelligence service had previously stated that Kiev had helped the rebel Tuareg in an ambush on a convoy of the Malian army and the Wagner mercenaries supporting them just over a week ago. As a consequence, Mali will in future regard support for Ukraine as support for international terrorism, the statement continued.

An unconfirmed photo showing Tuareg fighters with a Ukrainian flag was also circulating on the internet. "They have received the necessary information that enabled them to carry out the successful military operation against the Russian war criminals," said Andriy Yusov on Ukrainian television last week. At the same time, he announced further operations of this kind in Africa. "The monopoly of the Russian private armies in Africa is coming to an end and opposing forces are emerging that can put these criminals in their place," said the intelligence officer.

The Russians' heaviest loss in West Africa

According to the separatist Tuareg, 84 Russian mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers were killed in several days of fighting at the end of July around the village of Tinzaouatène on the border with Algeria. Some channels close to Wagner also reported more than 80 casualties, the heaviest Russian losses to date in West Africa. The Islamist terrorist group GSIM, which is allied with Al-Qaeda, also attacked the convoy. Whether the Tuareg cooperated with the Islamists is unconfirmed.

On Saturday, Mali's neighboring country Senegal summoned the Ukrainian ambassador after the embassy shared a video referring to the attack. Senegal does not tolerate propaganda in support of terrorism, the foreign ministry announced.

A few days after the defeat, the Malian army, with help from Burkina Faso, carried out air strikes in the area, hitting an area with illegal gold miners. According to local reports, around 50 people were killed. On Thursday, Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop spoke on the phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. According to Mali, Moscow reaffirmed its support for Bamako and its neighboring countries Burkina Faso and Niger, which are also ruled by coup leaders.