Ukraine is currently seeking support from the Global South, but several West African states are moving away from Western ties to turn to Russia. Russia has accused Ukraine of starting a “second front” in the war between them in Africa after Mali and Niger cut off diplomatic relations with Kyiv. Niger announced on Tuesday that it has severed ties with Ukraine immediately, following in the footsteps of Mali, which did the same on Sunday due to Ukraine’s alleged support for “terrorist groups.”
The move by these West African states comes after both nations recently took power through military coups and have since terminated defense agreements with France, opting for military support from Russia instead. The Ukrainian military spy agency spokesperson, Andriy Yusov, has been condemned for allegedly providing the necessary information to Malian rebels to carry out an attack in the north of the country.
Both Niger and Mali have criticized Ukraine for its alleged support of terrorism and have called on the United Nations Security Council to discuss Ukraine’s “aggression.” The Ukrainian government has rejected these allegations and condemned Mali’s decision as short-sighted and hasty.
In addition to Mali and Niger, other West African nations have also expressed their disapproval of Ukraine’s actions. Senegal summoned the Ukrainian ambassador over a video posted on the embassy’s Facebook page, accusing him of supporting a terrorist attack in Mali.
The diplomatic rift between Ukraine and West African nations is seen as a significant blow to Ukraine’s efforts to gain global support in response to Russia’s invasion. This move also raises concerns about Ukraine’s ability to broaden its appeal in the Global South as it faces challenges in the international arena.
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