Following Mali’s announcement, Niger has also cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine. Both countries, increasingly under the sway of Russian influence, have made this dramatic shift as part of a broader alignment with Moscow’s geopolitical efforts.
“The severance of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Niger will take effect immediately,” declared a spokesperson for the Nigerien government on Tuesday evening. Echoing the recent move by Mali, the spokesperson accused Kyiv of backing “terrorist groups” allegedly working with Tuareg rebels, who were said to have delivered a significant defeat to the Malian military. “The government of the Republic of Niger, in full solidarity with the government and people of Mali, has decided to sever diplomatic ties with Ukraine, effective immediately, in full respect of its sovereignty,” announced Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane on state television.
“The government of the Republic of Niger is shocked and deeply outraged by the provocative and unacceptable comments made by Mr. Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for the Ukrainian military intelligence,” the Nigerien official elaborated. Additionally, the Nigerien regime has requested that the United Nations Security Council address what it terms a so-called “Ukrainian aggression.”
References to “full sovereignty” seem strikingly unconvincing in light of Moscow’s swift response on Wednesday. The Kremlin quickly accused Ukraine of opening a “second front” in Africa, as reported by the French magazine La Dépêche. According to another French outlet, France Info, both Mali and Niger—under the leadership of Colonel Assimi Goïta and General Abdourahamane Tchiani, respectively—have increasingly aligned themselves with Russia since their military regimes seized power. Both countries have embraced Russian military instructors with open arms.
Nigerien and Malian officials have expressed their surprise at the lack of reaction from other African nations and the African Union. They seem to overlook the fact that regimes reliant solely on violent military force and Russian arms lack legitimacy and are unlikely to garner prompt international support. Furthermore, both regimes are avoiding elections, prolonging the region’s instability. This ongoing turmoil in the Sahel-Saharan zone understandably raises significant concerns throughout the region.
Russia is strategically advancing its interests in Africa by leveraging anti-colonial rhetoric and stoking anti-French sentiment, particularly in Mali. Last year, Paris was compelled to close three military bases that had been operational in Mali since the 1960s. This decision was driven by the prime minister and defence minister of the transitional government, both of whom had studied in Moscow. Similarly, earlier this year, the United States was forced to close its military base in Niger.
Ukrainian diplomats are vehemently rejecting the claims made by the African governments. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that “Ukraine is under attack from Russia and is working with the international community to set things right and uphold international law. This law is there to protect every country, including those in Africa, from attacks on their sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”
