Russia has accused Ukraine of opening a \u201csecond front\u201d in the war between them in Africa after Mali and Niger broke off diplomatic relations with Kyiv, accusing it of supporting \u201cterrorist groups\u201d. The claim by Moscow followed an announcement from Niger\u2019s military government on Tuesday that it has cut ties with Ukraine. Several states in West Africa have recently ditched longstanding ties with the West to turn to Russia. The move was in line with that of neighbouring Mali\u2019s military government, which on Sunday announced it was severing relations with Kyiv over its role in an attack in the north of the country in which Tuareg rebels said they killed dozens of Wagner mercenaries and Malian soldiers. Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine\u2019s military spy agency, said that the Malian rebels had received the \u201cnecessary\u201d information to conduct the operation. \u201cThe government of the Republic of Niger learned with great amazement and deep indignation, the subversive and unacceptable remarks of Mr Andriy Yusov,\u201d Amadou Abdramane, a spokesperson for Niger\u2019s military government, said as he announced the diplomatic break. Niger will ask the United Nations Security Council to debate Ukraine\u2019s \u201caggression,\u201d he added. On Monday, Ukraine condemned Mali\u2019s decision to sever relations as short-sighted and hasty, saying Kyiv rejected the allegation of Ukrainian support for international terrorism. Ukraine did not immediately respond about the move by Niger. Niger and Mali are both run by military governments that took power in recent coups. Both have since ripped up defence agreements with France and turned to Russia for military support. \u201cUnable to defeat Russia on the battlefield, the criminal regime of Volodymyr Zelenskyy has opened a second front in Africa,\u201d Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to media reports, as she accused Ukraine of \u201cpandering to terrorist groups in countries on the continent friendly to Moscow.\u201d On July 25, three days of intense fighting erupted near the Mali-Algeria border at a military camp at Tinzaouatene. Tuareg-led separatists said they had killed 84 fighters from Wagner and 47 Malian soldiers. Mali\u2019s army has admitted it suffered a \u201clarge number\u201d of deaths during the fighting but has not released figures. As well as condemning Yusov\u2019s comments, Niger, Mali and others in West Africa have blasted those of Ukraine\u2019s ambassador to Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast and Liberia. Senegal\u2019s foreign ministry summoned Ukrainian ambassador Yurii Pyvovarov on Friday over a video it said the Ukrainian embassy had posted on its Facebook page in which Pyvovarov provided \u201cunequivocal and unqualified support for the terrorist attack\u201d in Mali. The spat is viewed as a significant hit to Ukraine\u2019s efforts to win global support as it defends itself against Russia\u2019s invasion, and, in particular, to broaden its appeal in the Global South.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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