Mali breaks off diplomatic relations with Ukraine

Malian authorities have announced that they have severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine after a military official suggested that Kyiv played a role in deadly fighting near the Algerian border last month.

Dozens of Malian soldiers and mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group were killed in days of clashes with Tuareg separatist rebels and fighters linked to al-Qaeda.

Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, said last week that the rebels had been given the “necessary information to conduct the attacks.”

A top Malian official, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, said his government was shocked to hear the claim and accused Ukraine of violating Mali’s sovereignty.

“Mali has decided to break off relations with immediate effect”, he said.