Niger cuts ties with Ukraine over support for Tuareg rebels

The government of the Republic of Niger announced on Tuesday that it is severing diplomatic relations with Ukraine. This decision follows information that Kyiv supported Tuareg rebels with intelligence. As a result, several dozen soldiers from Mali and mercenaries from Russia's Wagner Group were killed in the fighting last month.

The authorities of the Republic of Niger severed all diplomatic relations with Ukraine on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. The previous day, the Malian government made the same move. Both African countries made the decision following a statement by Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov.

A Ukrainian military official said that the Tuareg rebels received "necessary information" to carry out the attacks. This fact greatly angered Niger government spokesperson Amadou Abdramane.

— The government of the Republic of Niger has learned with great astonishment and deep indignation about the subversive and unacceptable remarks of Mr. Andriy Yusov (...) In complete solidarity with the government and the people of Mali, we fully sovereignly decide to sever diplomatic relations between the Republic of Niger and Ukraine with immediate effect — said Abdramane.

A Nigerian politician announced in a televised statement that his country intends to turn to the UN Security Council, calling for a debate on Ukrainian "aggression".

Let us recall that on July 25, exceptionally fierce battles took place between Malian and Russian soldiers and Tuareg rebels. The former fell into an ambush by fighters from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated organization Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) while waiting for reinforcements.

The Malian army and the Wagner Group - which some time ago transformed into a group called Africa Corps - have not disclosed the figures for their losses. According to reports, the Russians lost a large part of their contingent. The Tuareg-led separatists claim to have killed 84 Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers.