Ukraine reportedly trains Tuareg rebels in Mali against Russian-backed forces

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is potentially spilling into the African Sahel, where Ukrainian drone specialists are allegedly training Tuareg rebels in northern Mali. According to an investigation by CNN published in September, approximately 15 specialists are providing operational planning and remote support to the Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA. The FLA shares a common enemy with Kyiv: the military government in Bamako and its Russian allies.

Marta Oliynyk-D'omochko, a coordinator for the African Studies Program at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, described the arrangement as a strategic move to weaken Russian influence globally. She noted that reducing Moscow's military presence in Africa would also diminish the economic opportunities tied to that influence. Irina Filatova, a professor emeritus at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, agreed the support is plausible but stated she lacks independent evidence to confirm it.

The partnership carries inherent risks because the FLA cooperates with the Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, a jihadist group affiliated with al-Qaeda. While the FLA seeks self-determination or autonomy for the Tuareg-majority north, the JNIM aims to impose strict Islamic rule. Oliynyk-D'omochko characterized the Ukrainian involvement as a tactical alliance against a common enemy rather than a comprehensive partnership.

Suspicion of Ukrainian involvement in Mali dates back to July 2024, when an ambush on Russian Wagner Group fighters near Tinzaouaten resulted in heavy losses for the paramilitaries and Malian troops. At the time, Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military intelligence service, the HUR, said the rebels received necessary information to execute the attack but denied direct Ukrainian participation.

Recent activity by Kyrylo Budanov, former head of the HUR and now chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has renewed interest in the matter. On September 7, Budanov posted on X that Ukrainian intelligence protects national interests from Russia to Africa, citing operations in desert sands and icy Antarctica. Although the post did not explicitly name Mali or confirm a specific operation, it aligned with CNN's findings regarding drone training and mission support.

The HUR has not provided specific details when asked about personnel deployment, political approval, or measures to prevent the JNIM from benefiting from Ukrainian support. A spokesperson indicated the agency might provide information later, leaving the extent of Kyiv's engagement unclear. CNN reported that the specialists provided remote support for drone missions, a claim DW has not independently verified.

Mali's strategic importance to Kyiv stems from Bamako's shift away from Western partners and toward Russia following coups in 2020 and 2021. In 2025, Moscow replaced the Wagner Group with the Africa Corps, consolidating its presence in the region. Ulf Laessing, head of the Syria and Iraq program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, reported that the Africa Corps continues to use Syria and Libya as transit points for flights to support operations on the continent.

Filatova argued that setbacks in Mali could tie up Russian resources and damage Moscow's reputation as a security partner. She stated that Ukrainian forces view Russian troops anywhere in the world as legitimate targets. From Kyiv's perspective, exerting pressure on these forces offers a low-cost method to weaken Russian interests beyond Europe through small teams of specialists.

The political cost for Ukraine may be high. Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, all ruled by military governments, have severed diplomatic ties with Kyiv and deepened cooperation with Russia. In September, Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop accused Ukraine at the United Nations of providing open support to terrorist and mafia-like groups to undermine territorial integrity, though he did not provide evidence.

Oliynyk-D'omochko warned that cooperation with separatists could undermine Kyiv's message of equal partnership with African nations. In many African countries, Tuaregs are viewed as separatists, so working with them risks the impression that Ukraine is interfering in internal affairs. The relationship remains a situational alliance, with the duration of the cooperation between the FLA and JNIM remaining uncertain.