Ukraine suspected of aiding Tuareg rebels in Mali

A CNN investigation published in September alleges that approximately 15 Ukrainian drone specialists are currently operating in northern Mali. These experts are reportedly assisting Tuareg rebels in the Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA, against the military government in Bamako. The two sides share a common adversary: the Malian state and its Russian military allies. This development suggests the war between Ukraine and Russia is extending beyond Europe into the African Sahel region.

Marta Oliynyk-D'omochko, who coordinates the African Studies Program at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, argues that Kyiv has a strategic motive for this engagement. She states that Ukraine's primary interest is to weaken Russian influence globally. According to her, if Russia's military reach is reduced, the economic benefits Moscow gains from that presence will also decrease.

The credibility of the CNN report is debated among experts. Irina Filatova, a professor emeritus at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, finds the Ukrainian support plausible but notes a lack of independent evidence to confirm it. The alleged partners of Ukraine, the FLA, maintain a controversial relationship with Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, or JNIM. JNIM is a jihadist group affiliated with al-Qaeda that shares a common enemy with the Tuareg separatists.

Suspicion of Ukrainian involvement in Mali dates back to July 2024. At that time, an ambush on Russian Wagner Group fighters near Tinzaouaten resulted in heavy losses for the paramilitaries and Malian troops. Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence service, HUR, stated that Tuareg rebels received necessary information to carry out the attack. Kyiv denied direct military involvement at the time.

Recent signals from Kyiv have renewed these questions. On September 7, Kyrylo Budanov, former head of military intelligence and current chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted on X that Ukrainian intelligence protects national interests worldwide. He described operations ranging from Russia to Africa, including in desert sands and icy Antarctica. Although he did not explicitly name Mali, CNN reported that Ukrainians provided drone training, operational planning, and remote support for missions. The HUR has not confirmed specific deployments or political approvals for a mission in Mali.

The geopolitical context is driven by Mali's shift toward Russia following coups in 2020 and 2021. Moscow replaced the Wagner Group with the Africa Corps in 2025 to consolidate its influence in the Sahel. Ulf Laessing, a former head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, notes that the Africa Corps uses Syria and Libya as transit points for flights to support operations on the continent. Filatova argues that Ukrainians view Russian troops anywhere as legitimate targets, meaning setbacks in Mali could tie up Russian resources.

The relationship between Ukraine and the Tuareg is described by Oliynyk-D'omochko as a tactical arrangement rather than a comprehensive alliance. The FLA seeks self-determination in northern Mali, while JNIM aims for strict Islamic rule. Cooperation between these groups has existed for over a decade, tracing back to the return of armed Tuareg fighters from Libya after the death of Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011. This history creates a political risk for Kyiv, as the Tuareg are often viewed as separatists in the region.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have accused Ukraine of supporting armed groups and threatening their territorial integrity. All three nations are ruled by military governments that have severed diplomatic ties with Kyiv and deepened cooperation with Russia. In September, Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop accused Ukraine at the United Nations of providing open support to terrorist groups to undermine the country's integrity. He did not provide evidence for this claim. The HUR told DW that it might provide more information later, leaving the extent of Ukrainian involvement in Mali unclear.