Niger cuts diplomatic ties with Ukraine in solidarity with Mali

A representative of the military transitional government of Niger, Amadou Abdramane, has announced the immediate severance of diplomatic relations with Ukraine.

He explained that this decision was taken in solidarity with Mali, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

"Given the gravity of the situation and the recognised and alleged involvement of Ukraine in the aggression of Mali, the Government of the Republic of Niger, in full solidarity with the Government and people of Mali, takes... the following measures: immediate severance of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Niger and Ukraine," the politician said.

In addition, Abdramane noted, the Nigerian authorities intend to ask the United Nations Security Council to take a decision on the aggression of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's regime and its sponsors.

He also called on the international community to confront Kyiv's decision to protect terrorism rather than fight it.

A day earlier, the Government of Mali announced the same decision. The reason for such tough steps was the statement by the GID about Kyiv's support for the so-called rebels operating on the territory of Mali.

In late July 204, a terrorist attack was carried out in northern Mali, resulting in casualties among Wagner fighters and civilians. The Ukrainian ambassador to Dakar, Yuriy Pivovarov, on social media supported the actions of his compatriots allegedly involved in the crime.

The diplomat was then summoned to the Senegalese Foreign Ministry. The Foreign Ministry of Burkina Faso said that the country strongly condemns this act of glorification of terror and expresses surprise that it was carried out by the Ukrainian embassy in Dakar.

Against the background of these reports, Western journalists have revealed other details of Ukraine's activities in Africa. It has been alleged that Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, had been planning an attack on the Wagner group in Mali since last year. This was revealed by documents of the United States National Security Agency leaked to the press.