Russia has again accused Ukraine of escalating tensions on the African continent, saying Kiev’s alleged support for militants in Mali and Niger constitutes a “second front” in its ongoing conflict with Russia. insisted.
Igor Gromyko, Ambassador of Russia to Mali and Niger, told TASS Ukraine’s involvement in African conflicts is a direct response to its failures on the battlefield with Russian forces.
Accusations that Ukraine supports “terrorism” in Africa are not new. Back in August, Russia had already accused Ukraine of opening a “second front” in Africa.
Mali and Niger are both ruled by military regimes that seized power in recent coups and have turned their backs on previous defense ties with France in favor of Russia for military aid.
“Unable to defeat Russia on the battlefield, Vladimir Zelenskiy’s government decided to open a ‘second front’ in Africa, supporting illegal armed groups against Moscow’s allies on the African continent,” the ambassador said. “We have decided to do so.”
His comments follow a series of diplomatic clashes between Ukraine and several African countries, which Kiev accuses of causing instability in the region. Tensions escalated in August when Mali’s transitional government announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Ukraine.
The decision was reportedly prompted by comments from Ukrainian officials, including Spokesman of Ukraine’s Intelligence Directorate Andrei Yusov and Ukraine’s ambassador to Senegal, Yuri Pivovarov.
These Ukrainian officials claimed at the time that Kiev supported the militants responsible for attacks on Malian troops in Ukraine’s northern region at the end of July.
The Russian ambassador further added: “We understand the motives that led the Malians to break ties with Kiev. The fact that they are collaborating with terrorists is not surprising. In our country, sabotage, sabotage, It continues to employ forbidden methods, including political assassinations and regular shelling of civilian infrastructure.”
Ukraine, on the other hand, has already denied the accusations, calling Mali and Niger’s decision to sever ties “short-sighted” and “hasty.”
Ukrainian officials strongly deny any involvement in supporting international terrorism and insist they are committed to regional stability and peace.
Russia in West Africa
Russia is increasingly establishing itself as a major power in Africa, and its influence will increase significantly from 2021 to 2023. This rise is largely due to a series of highly effective diplomatic strategies and disinformation campaigns that have enabled Russia to make major inroads into the African continent.
Russia’s actions contributed to the ouster of presidents in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the rise of pro-Russian military regimes, and the collapse of a decade-long French-led counterterrorism program in the region.
Unlike European countries struggling with human rights and arms export controls, Russia has shown an ability to act quickly and without hesitation.
According to West African officials say Russia can quickly deliver supplies without the bureaucratic delays that usually slow down European countries. This ability has made Moscow an attractive partner for several Sahel countries, especially in times of crisis.
Afrika Korps, Russia’s successor to the Wagner Group, operates in multiple countries, with an estimated 1,000 troops in Mali, about 100 in Burkina Faso, an unknown number in Niger and Sudan, and the Central African Republic ( CAR) has approximately 2,000 people.
These forces serve Russia’s economic interests, such as gold smuggling and arms trade, while also allowing Russia to disrupt regional power relations at low cost.
However, in late July, a coordinated attack by Tuareg separatists reportedly supported by Ukrainian intelligence killed more than 80 Russian Afrika Korps fighters and 47 Malian soldiers in Tinzouten on the Algerian border. However, the situation has changed dramatically. Moscow and Bamako responded by indiscriminately bombing parts of northern Mali.
However, after the ambush, photos were released showing Tuareg fighters holding the Ukrainian flag. This led to accusations that Ukraine supported the attack.
Ukrainian officials Confirmed The authenticity of the image states that it supports any group that opposes the Russian group in Africa. This caused a huge backlash from neighboring African countries, especially Niger.
On August 4, Mali announced the severing of diplomatic relations with Ukraine. After this, Senegal summoned Ukraine’s ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Burkina Faso also strongly condemned Ukraine’s actions. On August 6, Niger joined the wave of criticism and officially severed diplomatic relations with Kiev.
While the successful ambush by Tuareg fighters may have slightly embarrassed Russia, experts argue that the loss of several Wagner mercenaries is unlikely to affect Russia’s broader military operations. are. In contrast, Ukraine’s actions could damage relations with African countries and jeopardize future Western support for the struggle against Russia.
