Mali cuts diplomatic ties with Ukraine

Mali has officially cut diplomatic relations with Ukraine after news surfaced suggesting Kyiv’s involvement in deadly clashes near the Algerian border in July.

The conflict resulted in the deaths of dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group.

Ukraine provided intelligence

The controversy erupted when Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for Ukrainian Military Intelligence, claimed that rebels had received “necessary information” to carry out attacks from Ukraine. This statement simply implied Ukrainian intelligence involvement in the ambush that led to significant casualties among Malian forces and Wagner mercenaries.

Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, a top Malian official, expressed shock and condemned Ukraine’s actions as a violation of Mali’s sovereignty. In an official statement, Col. Maiga accused Ukraine of admitting to a “cowardly, treacherous, and barbaric attack by armed terrorist groups,” which resulted in numerous Malian soldier fatalities.

“Mali has decided to break off relations with immediate effect,” Col. Maiga declared, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

Deadly clashes

The clashes, which began on July 25, took place in the desert near Tinzaouaten, a northeastern town bordering Algeria. Malian and Russian forces were reportedly ambushed by Tuareg rebels and fighters from the al-Qaida affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin. The ambush occurred while they awaited reinforcements after retreating from Tinzaouaten.

The Malian army acknowledged “significant” losses during the multi-day conflict. While neither Mali’s military nor Wagner has released exact figures, estimates suggest Wagner’s death toll ranges from 20 to 80 fighters. This incident marks one of the heaviest losses for Wagner in Mali since they began supporting the military government two years ago.

Wagner’s confirmation

Wagner has confirmed the death of one of its commanders and the downing of a Russian helicopter during the fierce fighting. According to Wagner, approximately 1,000 fighters attacked their forces.

Tuareg-led separatists claimed responsibility for the deaths of 84 Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers.

Conflict background

More than a decade ago, Mali’s central government lost control of much of the north following a Tuareg rebellion, which demanded a separate state. The conflict was further complicated by the involvement of extremist militants.

The military cited the government’s inability to address the unrest as a reason for their coups in 2020 and 2021. Subsequently, the new junta shifted alliances from former colonial power France to Russia to quell the ongoing conflict.