Ukraine on African territory
Ukraine is suffering from a new crisis in its diplomatic relations. Following a military operation that killed members of the Wagner Group in Mali, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military intelligence service inferred its support for the Tuareg separatist group and members of Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (an official al-Qaeda branch) on television. The country now denies its involvement. Ukrainian relations with Mali have been severed and Niger has joined the split.
What has happened in Mali
The Wagner Group, according to the Institute for Security Studies, with the change of name to Africa Corps, has paramilitaries deployed in politically unstable African countries "in defence of the interests of the Russian Federation". Despite the alliance between the Russian mercenary group and the Malian Transitional Government, Tuareg separatists launched an ambush in northern Mali, allegedly killing 84 Russian and 47 Malian soldiers. Andriy Yusov, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) told Suspilne (Ukrainian TV channel): "The rebels received the necessary information that allowed them to execute a successful operation against the Russian war criminals".
A statement by Abdoulaye Maiga, spokesman for Mali's transitional government, announced the immediate severance of diplomatic relations between Mali and Ukraine, saying it was a consequence of Yusov's comments. Ukraine has denied the allegations and accused Mali of having acquiesced to war crimes by groups under Kremlin control in both Ukraine and African countries. Its Foreign Ministry statement added: "It is regrettable that the Transitional Government of the Republic of Mali has decided to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine without conducting a thorough examination of the facts and circumstances of the incident in northern Mali, and without providing any evidence of Ukraine's involvement in the incident".
Niger has joined in this severing of relations out of "solidarity" with its neighbour. It should be noted that Niger also has relations with the Russian militia. Following its request for help from the Wagner Group in 2023 to stop a coup d'état, and according to the Centre for Eastern Studies (OWS), they are still present in Niger where they carry out military training. One could conclude that Vladimir Putin's influence is taking advantage of the unstable African climate to develop and increase his military power over the continent. With coups in places like Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, these Sahrawi countries are turning their backs on the Western forces of France and the US and building relations with Russia.
Ukrainian involvement in this conflict does not end with a comment by a spokesperson. Wassim Masr, a French journalist and senior researcher at the Soufan Centre, recounted in a Washington Post article that Tuareg rebels asked Ukraine for help in 2023. He alleges that, in 2024, a small group of them received military training and drone control training from Ukraine. At the same time, Russia Today (RT), a Russian government-funded television network, also makes the same accusation in an article, citing the Wagner Group's private Telegram channel called Grey Zone. It alleges the existence of photographs of GUR instructors in Mali. The Kyiv Post received an exclusive photograph of the Tuaregs posing with the Ukrainian flag on the last day of the attack from Ukrainian defence and security sector sources.
Geopolitical analysts have commented that the history of the Tuareg and their quest for independence is a similar story to that of Ukraine, making it a logical ally for this group. The problem lies in the why: why would Ukraine support members of terrorist groups such as the Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin?
Tuareg independence
Ukraine's alleged support for terrorist groups is primarily a derivative of historical Tuareg issues.
In 2012 a war erupted in a quest for independence by a group of Tuareg called the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). This ethnic Sahrawi, practitioners of Islam, has a long and complex past, but now seeks independence for a section of northern Mali they call Azawad. Driven by radical Islamic groups whose aim is to establish Sharia (Islamic law) and Islam on the African continent, they have relied on these groups to gain independence. After the proclamation of the Independent State of Azawad in northern Mali with the help of Ansar Al-Dine and al-Qaeda according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, it was not recognised internationally. The Malian government regained control of the area in 2013 and the MNLA relinquished its claim to the territory, but they continue to seek independence. Because of these affiliations, Ukrainian support for the Tuareg leads to inevitable collaboration with terrorist groups.
The proxy struggle of radical groups is a serious concern in Mali and other Saharawi countries. With the addition of Russian militia involvement - which is under the control of the Russian Ministry of Defence - in several countries, the economic control exercised by China across the continent and the economic and military involvement of the United States, it is apparent that Africa is once again the battleground between different international forces to strengthen their respective geopolitical mandates.
Only one question remains: what will happen to Africa?