Ukraine accused of opening ‘African front’ with its support for anti-Wagner forces in Mali, Sudan
Russia has accused Ukraine of opening a “second front” in the war between them in Africa, as information emerges that Kyiv may be participating in the war in Sudan, where it supports the government forces against Russia-aided paramilitaries, and most recently in Mali, where Ukraine aids anti-government rebels fighting against the Wagner-backed junta.
The ambush at Mali’s Tinzaouten commune last month, which reportedly killed 47 Malian soldiers and 84 Wagner fighters, was a painful military blow for the mercenary outfit. Just two days later Andriy Yusov, spokesman for Kyiv’s military intelligence service (GUR), publicly admitted that his organization had aided ethnic Tuareg rebels in their fight against the government. Subsequent reports suggested that Ukrainian special forces had also trained the Tuareg separatists in the use of attack drones. Mali and Niger then broke off diplomatic relations with Kyiv, accusing it of supporting “terrorist groups”, while Russia has accused Ukraine of being “unable to defeat Russia on the battlefield” to have “opened a second front in Africa.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine has also reportedly been helping anti-Wagner battles in Sudan, where Ukrainian operatives provided intelligence and support to the Sudanese Armed Forces, conducted precision strikes and other military actions against Wagner units, including disrupting logistics and supply lines. Some reports also point to activities by Ukrainian intelligence aimed at dismantling Wagner’s economic operations, particularly in gold mining. According to Euromaidan Press, empowered by the years of battling Wagner in Europe, “the Ukrainian army is uniquely positioned to defeat one of Russia’s most feared private military companies in Africa, where it helps the Kremlin prop up authoritarian regimes in exchange for resources and influence.” Highlighting the possible strategic shift, security expert Omar Ashour notes that “the fight is global now. You cannot limit it to one theater.” Ukraine may now be set to flip Russia’s playbook, disrupting Wagner’s African gold operations and emerging as a surprise regional power broker.
