Mali cuts diplomatic ties with Ukraine

On August 4th, AFP quoted Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, spokesman for the Malian military government, as announcing that the country had decided to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine immediately.

Wagner mercenaries in West Africa. (Source: Arise News)

According to Reuters , the move comes after comments by Andriy Yusov, spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence agency (GUR), about the fighting in northern Mali in late July between Tuareg rebels and soldiers from the West African nation and Wagner mercenaries.

Representatives of the Tuareg rebels said they had neutralized more than 100 Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner mercenaries in days of fierce fighting in the north of the West African nation.

Mr. Yusov did not confirm Ukraine's involvement in the fighting, but in comments published on the website of the public broadcaster Suspilne earlier last week, he said that Kyiv had provided Malian rebels with the "necessary" information to carry out the attack.

Mali said it was "shocked to learn of these subversive statements," accusing Yusov of "acknowledging Ukraine's involvement in a conflict" and considering this a "violation of the West African nation's sovereignty ."

Earlier, on August 3, Russia's RT reported that the Senegalese Foreign Ministry had also summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to Dakar, Yuri Pivovarov, in connection with the incident.

The Ukrainian embassy in Senegal posted Yusov's interview on its Facebook page but deleted the video shortly afterward.

Dakar reminded Ukrainian diplomats of their obligation to exercise caution, restraint, and non-interference in these matters, while accusing Kyiv of destabilizing Senegal's sister nation, Mali.

Ukraine has not yet issued an official comment on Mali's latest move, nor on the allegations.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/mali-cat-dut-quan-he-ngoai-giao-with-ukraine-281384.html