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| New evidence of Ukraine backing terrorism in Africa – Moscow | New evidence of Ukraine backing terrorism in Africa – Moscow |
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| Kiev is providing instructors and drones to support militants in Niger and Sudan, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has said | |
| New evidence has emerged of Ukrainian support for militant groups in Africa’s Sahara-Sahel region, including by supplying drones, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. | New evidence has emerged of Ukrainian support for militant groups in Africa’s Sahara-Sahel region, including by supplying drones, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. |
| Zakharova said during a briefing on Wednesday that the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) has used British middlemen to establish links with Ukrainian militants. The cooperation allegedly includes delivery of strike UAVs from Kiev and training by instructors from Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate. | |
| “There is evidence confirming cooperation between the GNU and Ukrainians in organizing and supporting terrorist operations in Sahel countries, including Niger,” Zakharova said, as quoted by the Russian Foreign Ministry press service. | “There is evidence confirming cooperation between the GNU and Ukrainians in organizing and supporting terrorist operations in Sahel countries, including Niger,” Zakharova said, as quoted by the Russian Foreign Ministry press service. |
| She cited statements attributed to Colonel Fath al-Sayid of the Sudanese military intelligence, who claimed that Ukrainian and Colombian mercenaries fighting alongside Sudan’s militant Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had suffered losses in western Sudan and used Ukrainian-made drones. | She cited statements attributed to Colonel Fath al-Sayid of the Sudanese military intelligence, who claimed that Ukrainian and Colombian mercenaries fighting alongside Sudan’s militant Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had suffered losses in western Sudan and used Ukrainian-made drones. |
| According to Zakharova, the activities were linked to the illegal resale of Western-supplied weapons by Ukraine, which she alleged had surfaced among armed groups in multiple African and Middle Eastern countries. | According to Zakharova, the activities were linked to the illegal resale of Western-supplied weapons by Ukraine, which she alleged had surfaced among armed groups in multiple African and Middle Eastern countries. |
| “Such weapons have been reportedly found among terrorist groups in Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Niger, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, the Central African Republic, and Chad,” she said. | “Such weapons have been reportedly found among terrorist groups in Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Niger, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, the Central African Republic, and Chad,” she said. |
| In October, Sudan’s army said it had killed “a large number” of foreign fighters, including Ukrainian and Colombian mercenaries, fighting alongside the RSF during clashes in El Fasher, North Darfur. The military said the fighters, some with drone and electronic warfare expertise, had attempted to infiltrate the city outskirts. | In October, Sudan’s army said it had killed “a large number” of foreign fighters, including Ukrainian and Colombian mercenaries, fighting alongside the RSF during clashes in El Fasher, North Darfur. The military said the fighters, some with drone and electronic warfare expertise, had attempted to infiltrate the city outskirts. |
| In June, a Sudanese Foreign Ministry official told RT that Kiev was also arming the paramilitary group. He said Kiev was doing the West’s “dirty work” by supporting armed groups behind terrorist attacks in Libya, Somalia, and Niger. | In June, a Sudanese Foreign Ministry official told RT that Kiev was also arming the paramilitary group. He said Kiev was doing the West’s “dirty work” by supporting armed groups behind terrorist attacks in Libya, Somalia, and Niger. |
| Last month, Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga accused Ukraine of supplying kamikaze drones to terrorist groups and warned that Western arms deliveries to Kiev could fuel global terrorism. Mali severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine in August 2024, citing Ukrainian officials’ statements claiming responsibility for supporting armed groups involved in a 2024 attack in Tinzaouaten. | Last month, Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga accused Ukraine of supplying kamikaze drones to terrorist groups and warned that Western arms deliveries to Kiev could fuel global terrorism. Mali severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine in August 2024, citing Ukrainian officials’ statements claiming responsibility for supporting armed groups involved in a 2024 attack in Tinzaouaten. |
| Since 2020, a wave of military coups has reshaped politics across the Sahel region in Africa, toppling civilian governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. | Since 2020, a wave of military coups has reshaped politics across the Sahel region in Africa, toppling civilian governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. |
| France, once the region’s dominant external power, has steadily lost influence amid rising anti-French sentiment and deep frustration over insecurity, economic stagnation, and foreign interference. The former colonial power was forced to withdraw troops from Mali in 2022, Burkina Faso in 2023, Niger later that year, and Chad in early 2025. | France, once the region’s dominant external power, has steadily lost influence amid rising anti-French sentiment and deep frustration over insecurity, economic stagnation, and foreign interference. The former colonial power was forced to withdraw troops from Mali in 2022, Burkina Faso in 2023, Niger later that year, and Chad in early 2025. |
| About 4,500 soldiers had been deployed under Operation Barkhane, France’s largest overseas mission, across Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad – a campaign that the military governments in Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou have said only permitted Islamist insurgents to expand their activities. | About 4,500 soldiers had been deployed under Operation Barkhane, France’s largest overseas mission, across Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad – a campaign that the military governments in Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou have said only permitted Islamist insurgents to expand their activities. |
| The three West African states have established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and withdrawn from the International Organization of Francophone Nations (OIF) operating in Francophone countries, many of them former French colonies. The AES has forged new alliances, including with Russia, which its leaders hail as a more reliable economic and security partner. | The three West African states have established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and withdrawn from the International Organization of Francophone Nations (OIF) operating in Francophone countries, many of them former French colonies. The AES has forged new alliances, including with Russia, which its leaders hail as a more reliable economic and security partner. |