Sahel military juntas accuse Ukraine of supporting separatists

Military juntas in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have accused Ukraine of providing weapons and support to the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg separatist group. These Sahelian nations, which have shifted diplomatic ties from France toward Russia, claim that Kyiv is undermining their territorial integrity by backing groups linked to Al-Qaeda affiliates, specifically the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).

Mali Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop stated at the United Nations that Ukraine is providing “clear and open support to terrorist groups and other criminal groups.” Similarly, Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine accused both France and Ukraine of managing proxy forces to attack military positions and oil infrastructure near Niger's northeastern borders.

Reports from CNN and AFP suggest that Ukrainian military intelligence has been active in the region. Sources indicate that Ukrainian instructors have trained rebel fighters in the use of combat drones. These claims follow social media posts by Kyrylo Budanov, a high-ranking Ukrainian intelligence official, who suggested that Ukraine's intelligence services protect national interests globally, from Russia to Africa.