The military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have formally accused Ukraine of supporting rebel groups in West Africa’s Sahel region. In a letter addressed to the United Nations Security Council, the foreign affairs ministers of the three countries called on the UN to hold Ukraine accountable for what they described as “subversive acts” threatening regional and continental stability.
This diplomatic dispute escalated after a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency allegedly claimed that Malian rebels had received critical information to carry out a July attack in northern Mali. The attack, which resulted in the deaths of 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers, has been described as one of Wagner’s heaviest defeats since they began assisting Mali’s junta two years ago.
In response, Mali severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine earlier this month, a move followed by Niger in solidarity with its neighbor. Both countries have accused Ukraine of supporting “international terrorism,” a charge Ukraine has vehemently denied as baseless.
The letter from the Sahelian juntas was posted on Tuesday on the social media account of the Alliance of Sahel States, a group formed by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger following their recent coups. The letter has since been circulated among the 15 members of the UN Security Council. Ukraine’s foreign ministry has yet to comment on the allegations.
