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Ukraine is dealing with a diplomatic backlash in West Africa, spillover from its war with Russia. Two West African countries have cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine. This follows claims that Ukraine helped anti-government rebels in Mali battle and possibly kill scores of Malian soldiers and Russian paramilitary forces. NPR's Emmanuel Akinwotu reports.
EMMANUEL AKINWOTU, BYLINE: Graphic footage of one of the deadliest attacks Russia's Wagner mercenaries have suffered in Africa.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Non-English language spoken).
AKINWOTU: It was posted on a Kremlin-linked Telegram channel. The videos appear to show several Russian fighters and Malian soldiers dead in the desert near the Algerian border in an attack by separatists in late July.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Non-English language spoken).
AKINWOTU: The separatist Tuareg rebels claim to have killed more than 80 Wagner fighters and almost 50 Malian Army soldiers. The diplomatic row erupted after televised comments from Ukraine's military intelligence spokesperson, Andriy Yusov.
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ANDRIY YUSOV: (Speaking Ukrainian).
AKINWOTU: Yusov said the separatist rebels had been given, quote, "necessary information" against, quote, "Russian military criminals."
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YUSOV: (Speaking Ukrainian).
AKINWOTU: He said more was coming, and that, quote, "Russian forces would be punished wherever they are in the world." But the comments drew immediate reaction from West African leaders as Wagner fighters were not the only casualties but Malian soldiers, too.
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ABDOULAYE MAIGA: (Non-English language spoken).
AKINWOTU: Mali's Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, a spokesperson for the military regime, condemned Ukraine's involvement as a treacherous and barbaric attack. And he accused Ukraine of supporting terrorists, as the Tuareg rebels are deemed in Mali, having at times made alliances with jihadists.
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MAIGA: (Non-English language spoken).
AKINWOTU: He announced Mali had cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine, but the fallout spread even further. Niger followed suit and also cut ties with Ukraine, while Senegal's foreign ministry summoned the Ukrainian ambassador. Ukraine has since backtracked and denied involvement, but the damage has been done.
ULF LAESSING: I think Ukraine has realized they've made a huge mistake.
AKINWOTU: Ulf Laessing is based in Mali and is the director of the Sahel program at KAS, a pro-democracy organization. He says it's not clear how much help Ukraine gave Tuareg rebels, but it's not likely to be significant.
LAESSING: I don't think Ukraine had anything to do with this attack because the Tuareg rebels say they know their way around Northern Mali. They don't need Ukrainians to tell them where best to set up an ambush site.
AKINWOTU: Russia has accused Ukraine of opening a new front in West Africa, since it invaded its neighbor more than two years ago. And pro-Russian influencers in the region now depict Ukraine as a funder of terrorism. The incident is likely to have an impact on an ongoing dynamic in the region. Moscow has been seeking to grow its influence in mineral rich West Africa, while Ukraine is seeking support from the Global South in its war against Russia.
LAESSING: This really, really makes things worse for Ukraine to establish itself as a victim in the war against Russia.
AKINWOTU: It adds a new layer to a devastating security crisis in West Africa that only grows worse. Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR News, Lagos. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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