Kiev is backing terrorist groups on the continent, Abdoulaye Diop has said

Ukraine is acting as a destabilizing force in Africa by backing terrorist groups in the Sahel region, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop has said.  

In an interview with RIA Novosti on Monday, Diop claimed Ukraine's actions pose a significant threat to regional security.

"I must say that Mali, which has also severed relations with Ukraine, considers Ukraine a terrorist state to the extent that Ukraine has openly called for and declared its support for terrorist groups in the Sahel," the minister stated. This has resulted in the deaths of numerous Malian soldiers and civilians, he added. 

The minister emphasized that Bamako condemns Kiev's actions, stressing that it must be held accountable. "Ukraine must take responsibility and ensure that the African peoples do not regard it as a troublemaker, an irresponsible actor, creating instability in our regions," Diop added.

Diop also underlined that Mali and its regional partners back efforts to resolve the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, while insisting that any settlement must address Russia's security concerns. 

According to the Malian top diplomat, "peace between Russia and Ukraine will be beneficial for the whole world, for stability, as well as for the global economy, for the economies of our countries, and we therefore support it. In any case, we call on Russia to continue its current efforts to establish peace with its neighbor."

The remarks followed the first-ever consultations between the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and Russia, held in Moscow last week at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Diop and his counterparts from Niger and Burkina Faso held talks with Lavrov and later attended a joint press conference.

During the briefing, Diop reiterated his accusations against Ukraine, declaring that "Ukraine is a sponsor of terrorism, and this must be stopped."

The leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have repeatedly accused Kiev of providing weapons and training to Tuareg rebels and jihadist fighters in the Sahel. Reports have claimed that Ukrainian military intelligence supplied information used in a deadly ambush last July, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of Malian troops and Russian Wagner Group contractors. Kiev has denied the allegations, although Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andrey Yusov reportedly acknowledged involvement in the attack.

READ MORE: Ukraine a 'sponsor of terrorism' - Malian FM

Mali severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine in early August, following controversial comments made by Yusov regarding operations in northern Mali. Days later, Niger's military-led government followed suit in solidarity. Burkina Faso's ambassador to Russia, Aristide Tapsoba, confirmed to TASS that "currently, there are almost no diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and Ukraine."