Following Mali and Niger’s diplomatic break with Kiev, Russia accused Ukraine of creating a “second front” in their fight in Africa by supporting “terrorist groups.”
Moscow’s assertion came after the military administration of Niger declared on Tuesday that it was severing its connections with Ukraine. Recently, a number of West African states have severed long-standing ties with the West in favor of Russia.
Niamey declared on Tuesday that the shift in ties with Ukraine will take place “immediately.”
The action followed the lead of the military government of neighboring Mali, which declared on Sunday that it was cutting ties with Ukraine due to the latter’s involvement in an attack in the north of the nation that resulted in the deaths of numerous Tuareg rebels and Malian soldiers, along with Wagner mercenaries.
A representative for the military intelligence service in Ukraine, Andriy Yusov, stated that the rebels in Mali had obtained the “necessary” information to carry out the operation.
Spokesman for Niger’s military government, Amadou Abdramane, stated, “The government of the Republic of Niger learned with great amazement and deep indignation, the subversive and unacceptable remarks of Mr. Andriy Yusov.” Abdramane also declared the diplomatic split.
He went on to say that Niger would like the UN Security Council to discuss Ukraine’s “aggression.”
Ukraine denounced Mali’s move to break off ties on Monday, calling it rash and short-sighted. Kyiv also refuted the claim that the country supports international terrorism. Ukraine did not immediately comment on Niger’s action.
Following recent coups, the militarized governments of Niger and Mali are in charge. Since then, both have renounced their defense contracts with France and resorted to military assistance from Russia.
According to RIA Novosti news agency, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the criminal regime of Volodymyr Zelenskyy had “opened a second front in Africa” after failing to defeat Russia in combat and accusing Ukraine of “pandering to terrorist groups in countries on the continent friendly to Moscow.”
