Ukraine has been training African militants on its territory to fight Russian forces in Africa, primarily the private military company Wagner, Le Monde reports.
Contacts between Ukrainian military intelligence and Malian militants intensified after the militants lost control of the town of Kidal, the desert region of northern Mali in November, 2023. In early 2024, several members of Strategic Framework for the Defence of the People of Azawad (CSP-DPA) travelled to Ukraine via Mauritania for training in drone production and use.
A source close to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry (HUR) confirmed to the newspaper the fact of training Malian militants on Ukrainian territory, as well as sending Ukrainian instructors to the Sahel region. According to the Malian officer, the rebels have purchased a significant number of drones from Ukraine. CSP-DPA representatives, while not explicitly confirming the fact of training, acknowledged the existence of links with Ukrainian authorities.
The newspaper’s source called the disclosure of information about the co-operation with militants by HUR representative Andriy Yusov a diplomatic mistake. However, he stressed that Kyiv intended to continue fighting the Russian Wagner “wherever it is.”
After these statements, Mali’s prosecutor’s office launched an investigation into possible assistance to terrorism by Ukraine, and the country’s authorities severed diplomatic relations with Kyiv.
Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso asked the UN Security Council to take action against Ukraine and its support for terrorism in Africa in August.
