Mali’s spat with Kyiv: Is the Russia-Ukraine war spilling over into Africa?
Al JazeeraBamako has cut ties with Kyiv, accusing it of complicity in an attack that killed Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner troops. The diplomatic spat started last week after a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military spy agency revealed cryptically that the rebels had the “necessary information” to execute the July attack. Mali took action “without conducting a thorough study of the facts and circumstances of the incident … and without providing any evidence of Ukraine’s involvement in the said event”, the statement read. “At least two Russian commanders that had previously led paramilitary operations in Ukraine were also killed in these attacks.” Moscow’s accusations may not be too far off the mark, according to analysts. “Russia’s war on Ukraine is very much a war of disinformation and one cannot discount the fact that Ukraine might attempt to counter Russian disinformation in the same manner.” As for Mali, the row is not likely to shake its relations with Russian forces, as Bamako has increasingly relied on Russia politically, analysts said, but the recent defeat is likely to force the government to rethink its strategy as it seeks to wrest back the rebel north.
History of this topic
Mali severs diplomatic relations with Ukraine for providing intelligence to rebels
CNN
Mali separatists claim major victory over army, Russian allies
New Indian Express
Is Africa still ‘neutral’ a year into the Ukraine war?
Al Jazeera
Can the African Union be a neutral arbiter of peace in Ukraine?
Al Jazeera
Many African countries are staying neutral on Russia's invasion of Ukraine
NPRDiscover Related
)
)
)
)
