The Foreign Ministry of Senegal has sharply criticized the Ukrainian embassy for supporting a terrorist attack on government forces and Russian military contractors in Mali last month. Senegal accused Ukraine of trying to destabilize the “brotherly” nation of Mali.
In late July, Tuareg insurgents attacked a convoy of Malian soldiers and members of the Wagner private military company near Mali’s border with Algeria, killing dozens. This week, Andrey Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, claimed that Ukrainian agents helped the jihadists plan the attack.
“The rebels received necessary information, and not just information, which enabled a successful military operation against Russian war criminals,” Yusov told Ukrainian television. He did not confirm whether Ukrainian personnel took part in the attack but promised more such operations in the future.
Ukraine’s embassy in Dakar posted the interview on its Facebook page, featuring a comment from Ambassador Yuri Pivovarov, who declared that “there will certainly be other results. The punishment of war crimes and terrorism is inevitable.” The video has since been deleted.
On Saturday, the Senegalese Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning these actions. They said they “cannot accept… comments and gestures aimed at apologizing for terrorism, especially when the latter aims to destabilize a country, a brotherly one like Mali.”
Senegal, which takes a neutral stance in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, also stated that it “cannot tolerate any attempt to transfer the media propaganda underway in this conflict to its territory.” The ministry summoned Ambassador Pivovarov to explain his actions and reminded him of the need for discretion and non-interference in his diplomatic mission.
The Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs issued a statement of X:
The Ministry of African Integration and Foreign Affairs noted, with surprise, the publication on the Facebook page of the Ukrainian Embassy in Dakar of a propaganda video from the Ukrainian army accompanied by a comment of the Ukrainian Ambassador himself providing unequivocal and unqualified support for the terrorist attack perpetrated, between July 25 and 27, 2024, in Northern Mali, by Tuareg rebels and members of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM) against the Armed Forces of Mali (FAMA) having led to significant loss of human life within them.
Consistent in its position of constructive neutrality in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and in view of the constant appeal of its highest authorities to the belligerent parties to favor means of peaceful settlement of the dispute between them, Senegal cannot tolerate any attempt to transfer to its territory the media propaganda underway in this conflict.
Likewise, our country, which rejects terrorism in all its forms, cannot accept on its territory and in any way, words and gestures in the direction of the apology of terrorism, especially when the latter aims to destabilize a brother country like The Mali.
Thus, Senegal reiterates its condemnation, with the utmost energy, of the attack committed by these terrorist groups on Malian soil. In this painful circumstance, Senegal renews its unfailing solidarity to the Government and people of Mali and presents its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.
Concerning the Ukrainian Ambassador in Dakar who was summoned yesterday by the Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, he was reminded of the obligations of discretion, restraint and non-interference which must accompany seriousness and the solemnity of his mission.
Mali has faced a jihadist insurgency since 2012, with attacks from Al-Qaeda and Islamic State factions causing thousands of deaths and displacing over 375,000 people. A decade-long French military operation failed to stop the violence, which has spread to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. These countries, along with Mali, are now led by military governments following coups since 2020. This year, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso formed a confederation to combat the jihadist threat and have sought increased security cooperation with Russia. Wagner fighters are believed to be operating in Mali and Burkina Faso.
Although Senegal is not part of this alliance and is friendly with the US and France, it maintains good relations with its eastern neighbor Mali. The recent actions of the Ukrainian embassy have created significant tension, highlighting the complex and volatile nature of international relations in the region.
