Authorities in Ivory Coast are reportedly investigating allegations that Ukraine has been training Tuareg insurgents.
A source has told RT that Kiev has been using its embassy in Ivory Coast to support Tuareg militants in the Sahel region. This comes after a diplomatic dispute in Africa, sparked by the death of Malian soldiers and Russian military contractors in a rebel ambush in northern Mali in August.
Some officials in Kiev initially claimed that the Tuareg fighters had carried out the “successful” attack with help from Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, and warned that “there will be more to come.” Ukraine later denied any involvement with the militants.
On Friday, Malian newspaper Bamada reported that Ivory Coast authorities are investigating the Ukrainian embassy in Abidjan, focusing on allegations that the embassy coordinated the training of insurgents and used diplomatic mail to ship drone parts to the country.
An RT source corroborates most of Bamada’s claims, alleging that Tuareg rebels visited Ivory Coast for training in Ukraine, where they met with HUR officers to plan their training. The source also claims that the embassy was used to ship drone parts for assembly in Ivory Coast, and may have been involved in recruiting fighters.
Bamada stresses that if Ukraine’s involvement in “destabilizing activities in West Africa” is confirmed, it could have serious consequences for relations between Ivory Coast and Ukraine.
Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have addressed the UN Security Council, calling for action against Kiev’s alleged interference in the Sahel region. The three nations, currently under military rule and having recently severed defense ties with France, requested that the UNSC “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.”
Mali and Niger broke off diplomatic relations with Kiev in early August over its alleged support of terrorism.