Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Accuse Ukraine of Supporting Terrorism in the Sahel Region at UN
Heads of the Militatry Goverments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, July 2024 Photo:AllAfricaFr
August 21, 2024 Hour: 2:46 pm
The request comes after recent comments by Ukrainian officials suggest that Kiev has played a role in the attacks of the Tuareg separatist rebels.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger asked the UN Security Council president on Tuesday to denounce «the open and alleged support of the Ukrainian government for international terrorism», especially in the Sahel region of Africa.
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The request follows recent comments by Ukrainian officials suggesting that Kiev has played a role in the attacks by Tuareg separatist rebels which caused the deaths of numerous Malian soldiers last month in the northeastern village of Tinzawaten, at the border with Algeria.
In a joint letter, the foreign ministers of the three countries stated that their governments were shocked by the comments of Andriy Yusov, spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, «admitting the role of Ukraine in cowardly, barbaric and criminal attacks» between 24 and 26 July.
He added that the statements were confirmed by Yurii Pyvovarov, Ambassador of Ukraine to Senegal.
Yusov claimed that the rebels received «the necessary information they needed» to carry out attacks after the Malian army confirmed «losses» in the clashes.
The letter called on the Security Council to «take appropriate measures against these subversive actions that strengthen terrorist groups in Africa».
It stated that the official’s comments go beyond the realm of foreign interference, which is in itself condemnable.
«This is an official and unequivocal support of the Ukrainian government to terrorism in Africa, especially in the Sahel. These acts also constitute a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our States, a clear aggression and support for international terrorism, in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and relevant international conventions», The letter says so in part.
The three countries have signed a defence pact under their formation called the Confederation of Sahel States.
The Tinzawaten area has been a battleground between separatist forces and the Malian army for the last decade.
Mali and Niger broke off diplomatic relations with Ukraine earlier this month, citing comments by the Ukrainian military that suggested Kiev had played a role in the July attacks.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have signed a joint defence agreement that includes a commitment to provide mutual military support in the face of threats from armed insurgency or external aggression. This agreement, called the «Alliance of Sahel States», was established on 16 September 2023 and officially launched on 6 July 2024.
Under the agreement, an attack against any of the three countries is considered to be an attack against all of them and there is an obligation to provide military assistance in such a case.
«Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracting parties shall be considered as an attack on the other parties. Constitutes a duty of assistance, including the use of armed forces to restore security».
This alliance was formed after ECOWAS threatened to intervene militarily in Niger following the 2023 Niger crisis.
The three countries were formerly members of ECOWAS and have in recent years been under military rule, with successful coups: the 2021 coup in Mali, the September 2022 one in Burkina Faso and the 2023 one in Niger. The Alliance has an anti-French and ECOWAS-opposing perspective.
It is well known that the Sahel states, together with their junta regimes, have established close links with Russian forces in Africa. In this process, Niger has taken steps to ensure that US troops leave the country.
In addition, the activities of the African Corps affiliated with Russia, a substitute for the Wagner organization, are also well known in the region.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: EFE-Africanews
