By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Allegations of Ukrainian Involvement in Deadly Clashes Prompt Diplomatic Break
Mali has announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Ukraine following allegations from a Ukrainian military official regarding Ukraine's involvement in deadly clashes near the Algerian border last month. The fighting resulted in the deaths of dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries.
Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, recently suggested that rebels involved in the clashes had received "necessary information" to conduct the attacks. In response, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, a senior Malian official, expressed shock and accused Ukraine of violating Mali's sovereignty. Maiga stated that Yusov's comments implicated Ukraine in a "cowardly, treacherous, and barbaric attack" by armed terrorist groups, leading to significant Malian casualties.
Effective immediately, Mali has decided to break off diplomatic relations with Ukraine. This decision follows Mali's acknowledgment of "significant" losses during several days of fighting that began on July 25 near Tinzaouaten, a town on the northeastern border with Algeria.
The clashes involved Malian forces and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries, who were ambushed by Tuareg separatist rebels and al Qaeda linked fighters. Reports indicate that the Malian and Russian forces were awaiting reinforcements after retreating from Tinzaouaten. While neither Mali’s military nor Wagner have provided exact figures, estimates suggest the death toll for Wagner fighters ranges from 20 to 80, marking the heaviest losses for the group since it began assisting the Malian military government two years ago. Wagner has confirmed the death of one of its commanders and the downing of a Russian helicopter, attributing the attack to approximately 1,000 fighters.
Tuareg-led separatists claimed they had killed 84 Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers. Mali's security situation has been complex for over a decade, following a Tuareg rebellion that led to the central government losing control of much of the north. The rebellion, initially driven by demands for a separate state, was further complicated by the involvement of Islamist militants.
The military cited the government's inability to manage this unrest as a reason for their coups in 2020 and 2021. Subsequently, the new junta shifted Mali's long standing alliance with France to Russia, seeking to quell the ongoing insurgency.
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