Authorities in Ivory Coast have reportedly been investigating Kiev’s alleged training of Tuareg insurgents
Kiev has been using its embassy in the West African country of Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) as a support center for Tuareg militants in the Sahel region, a source has told RT.
Ukraine has been at the center of a diplomatic storm in Africa since the beginning of August, when dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian military contractors were killed in a rebel ambush in northern Mali. Some officials in Kiev had initially claimed that the Tuareg fighters had carried out their “successful” attack thanks to information from Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, and warned that “there will be more to come.” However, Ukraine later denied having any links with the militants.
On Friday, Malian newspaper Bamada said that “rumors are circulating” about a possible investigation by Ivory Coast authorities into the conduct of the Ukrainian embassy in the country’s largest city, Abidjan. According to the outlet, the probe is focused on teh diplomatic mission’s alleged involvement in coordinating training for insurgents, and using the embassy for shipping drones, the report states.
A source, who talked to RT on Saturday, corroborated most of the claims made by the Malian outlet.
“The Tuareg rebels visited Ivory Coast before undergoing training in Ukraine. There, they probably met with HUR officers and planned how the groups would be heading out for training,” the source said.
According to the RT source, the Ukrainian embassy’s diplomatic mail had been used to organize shipment of drone parts to Ivory Coast, with the UAVs being later assembled in the country.
The embassy in Abidjan is also suspected of working to recruit fighters, the source added.
In its article, Bamada stressed that if Kiev’s involvement in “destabilizing activities in West Africa” is officially confirmed, “it could have major repercussions on relations between Ivory Coast and Ukraine.”
Earlier this week, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso addressed the UN Security Council and asked it to take action against Kiev’s meddling in the Sahel region. The UNSC should “take appropriate measures against these subversive actions which strengthen terrorist groups in Africa and constitute a manifestation of the involvement of foreign state sponsors in the expansion of terrorism in the region,” a statement from the three countries read. The three Sahel states remain under military rule and hav recently severed defense ties with their former colonial power, France.
In early August, Mali and Niger said they were breaking off diplomatic relations with Kiev, over its alleged support of terrorism.
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