Mali cuts diplomatic ties with Ukraine

On August 4, AFP news agency quoted the spokesman for the Malian military government, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, as saying that the country decided to immediately sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine.

Wagner mercenaries in West Africa. (Source: Arise News)

According to Reuters news agency, the move was made after comments by the spokesman of the Ukrainian military intelligence agency (GUR) Andriy Yusov about the fighting in northern Mali in late July between Tuareg rebels and soldiers of the West African country and Wagner mercenaries.

Tuareg rebels say they have eliminated more than 100 Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner mercenaries in days of fierce fighting in the north of the West African country.

Mr Yusov did not confirm Ukraine's involvement in the fighting, but in comments published on the website of public television station Suspilne earlier last week, he said Kiev had provided the Malian rebels with the "necessary" information to carry out the attack.

Mali said it was "shocked to learn of these subversive statements", accusing Mr Yusov of "admitting Ukraine's involvement in a conflict" and calling this a "violation of the sovereignty " of the West African country.

Previously, on August 3, Russia's RT news station reported that the Senegalese Foreign Ministry also summoned Ukrainian Ambassador in Dakar Yuri Pivovarov regarding the incident.

The Ukrainian embassy in Senegal posted Mr Yusov's interview on its Facebook page but deleted the video shortly afterwards.

The Dakar side reminded Ukrainian diplomats of their duty to exercise caution, restraint and non-interference in these matters, and accused Kiev of destabilizing Senegal's brother country, Mali.

Ukraine has yet to make an official comment on Mali's latest move, nor the above accusations.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/mali-cat-dut-quan-he-ngoai-giao-voi-ukraine-281384.html