Niger, a steadfast partner of Russia, has elected to terminate diplomatic relations with Ukraine, indicating a deepening division between select West African nations and Kyiv. This decision follows a similar action taken by neighboring Mali, which severed ties with Ukraine a mere two days earlier.

The catalyst for these developments appears to stem from remarks made by a Ukrainian military official, implying Ukraine’s involvement in the killing of numerous Malian soldiers during a recent violent clash with separatist rebels and al-Qaeda-linked militants. This incident, occurring in July, resulted in accusations against Ukraine of violating Mali’s sovereignty.

The military government of Niger has supported Mali’s position, demonstrating solidarity with its neighboring nation and denouncing the comments made by the Ukrainian military official. Furthermore, Senegal, another neighboring country, has censured Ukraine, with its foreign ministry summoning Ukraine’s ambassador to express discontent over the situation.

The decisions made by Mali and Niger have not escaped the attention of Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine, although yet to comment on Niger’s decision, has decried Mali’s action as “short-sighted and hasty”, underscoring its commitment to adherence to international law and alleging Russian-controlled groups of perpetrating “numerous war crimes” in African nations. Meanwhile, Russia has accused Ukraine of opening a “second front” in Africa, insinuating that the Ukrainian government is aligning itself with terrorist groups in countries allied with Moscow.

The ramifications of this diplomatic fallout extend beyond the immediate players. In recent years, nations in West Africa such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have turned to Russia for military support, evidenced by the termination of defense agreements with longstanding allies such as France and the US. Concurrently, Ukraine has sought to strengthen its connections with African nations, with its foreign minister undertaking multiple visits to the continent in the last two years, including an ongoing tour of Malawi, Zambia, and Mauritius.

As other West African countries observe these developments closely, there is speculation regarding the potential reactions of other nations in the region, particularly Burkina Faso, which formed a bloc with Niger and Mali earlier this year and is also under military rule.

Amidst these events, the repercussions of the Ukraine-Russia conflict are also being felt in other African countries. In Sudan, there have been allegations of the Wagner group supporting paramilitary forces in their conflict with the Sudanese army. Reports also indicate the involvement of Ukrainian special forces in armed skirmishes in Sudan, although these claims have not been verified by independent sources.

As diplomatic tensions unfold, mourners in Moscow recently gathered to honor the Wagner fighters killed in the July attack in Africa, highlighting the far-reaching repercussions of the conflict. The current situation has the potential to reshape the geopolitical landscape in Africa and beyond.

For further news from the African continent, please visit bbcAfrica.com and follow BBC Africa on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest updates.

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