15 Ukrainian specialists train Tuareg rebels in Mali

Approximately 15 Ukrainian drone specialists are operating in northern Mali to support Tuareg rebels against the military government in Bamako and its Russian allies, according to a September investigation by CNN. The report details how Kyiv provided drone training, operational planning, and remote support for drone missions in the region. The common enemy for both groups is the Russian military presence, which has solidified in the Sahel since 2020.

The suspicion of Ukrainian involvement dates back to July 2024. At that time, Wagner Group paramilitaries and Malian troops suffered heavy losses in an ambush near Tinzaouaten. Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence service, stated that Tuareg rebels received necessary information to carry out the attack. Kyiv denied direct involvement but did not rule out indirect assistance. The recent CNN findings have renewed debate over whether the Russia-Ukraine war is being fought on African soil.

Kyrylo Budanov, formerly the head of Ukrainian military intelligence and now chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted on X on September 7 that Ukrainian intelligence protects national interests worldwide. He referenced operations in the "burning desert sands," though he did not explicitly name Mali. The post did not confirm a specific operation but aligned with the timeline of the reported drone support.

Mali turned toward Russia after military coups in 2020 and 2021. The Wagner Group was replaced by the Africa Corps in 2025 as Moscow reorganized its military footprint. Ulf Laessing, head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Syria and Iraq program, noted that the Africa Corps uses Syria and Libya as transit points for flights and refueling to support operations on the continent. Irina Filatova, a professor emeritus at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, argued that Ukrainian forces view Russian troops anywhere in the world as legitimate targets. Setbacks in Mali could tie up Russian resources and undermine Moscow's reputation as a security partner.

The Tuareg separatist Azawad Liberation Front fights for independence in northern Mali. The group cooperates with Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, an al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist organization. Marta Oliynyk-D'omochko, coordinator of the African Studies Program at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, described the relationship as a tactical arrangement rather than a comprehensive alliance. She stated that the partnership is situational, aimed at weakening Russian influence and the economic opportunities arising from it.

DW contacted the Ukrainian military intelligence service for comment on whether personnel were deployed to Mali and if political leadership approved the mission. The agency said it might provide information later. No specific response was received regarding measures to ensure the jihadist partner does not indirectly benefit from Ukrainian support.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have severed diplomatic relations with Kyiv. In September, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop accused Ukraine at the United Nations of providing clear support to terrorist groups to undermine territorial integrity. The three Sahel nations seek to portray Kyiv as a destabilizing actor to legitimize their partnership with Moscow. The CNN report highlights the financial and strategic stakes of this low-cost engagement for Ukraine in the African market.