The government of Mali has officially severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine. Ukraine, an Eastern European country, and Mali, located in the Sahel region of Africa, have had minimal political and commercial interactions. Neither country maintains an embassy in the other’s capital, which makes their sudden clash all the more surprising.
The root of this diplomatic fallout lies in Ukraine’s aggressive and shortsighted actions. Mali’s decision to cut ties with Ukraine is not an isolated incident but reflects a broader issue of Ukraine’s inability to engage with the Global South respectfully.
The incident
In late July, Malian government forces, including troops from Russia’s Wagner Group, were ambushed near the town of Tinzaouaten in northern Mali. The attackers were a coalition of Tuareg insurgents, part of the CSP-DPA (Cadre Stratégique Pour la Défense du Peuple de l’Azawad), and al-Qaeda-affiliated Jihadist terrorists from JNIM (Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin). The battle resulted in significant losses for Wagner and Malian forces, with varying reports on the number of casualties.
Ukraine’s role
The situation escalated when Andrey Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence service HUR, publicly claimed that his agency had provided crucial information to the attackers. There were also speculations about the involvement of drones and weapons. Instead of damage control, Ukraine’s ambassador to Senegal, Yury Pivovarov, further aggravated the situation by boasting about Ukraine’s role in the ambush in a video on his embassy’s website. This led to a formal reprimand from the Senegalese government and the video’s removal.
Implications for Ukraine
Ukraine’s actions have significant implications. If HUR’s involvement is true, Ukraine has essentially supported a coalition of separatist insurgents and Jihadist terrorists against Malian government forces, which is a major violation of international law. This could have given Mali a legitimate reason to declare war against Ukraine as an act of self-defense. Even if the claims were exaggerated, the damage to Ukraine’s reputation is substantial. The incident has attracted international attention, particularly in the Global South, highlighting Ukraine’s aggressive and arrogant stance.
Broader context
This incident underscores a broader issue in Ukraine’s foreign policy. Throughout the conflict with Russia, Ukraine has tried to position itself as aligned with the post-colonial states of the Global South to gain their support. However, incidents like the one with Mali reveal a deep-seated arrogance and a lack of respect for these nations. This misstep with Mali exemplifies why Ukraine has struggled to gain support from the Global South and suggests that without significant changes in its approach, it is unlikely to succeed.
Mali’s response
Mali’s government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga condemned Ukraine’s involvement, stating that it violated Mali’s sovereignty and amounted to support for international terrorism. This strong response from Mali highlights the severity of Ukraine’s actions and the broader implications for its relations with other nations.
In summary, Ukraine’s mishandling of its relationship with Mali is a reflection of its broader challenges in engaging with the Global South. The fallout from this incident serves as a warning that respect and diplomacy are crucial in international relations.
