MFA reacts to Niger’s severance of diplomatic relations: accusations do not stand up to scrutiny
8 August 2024 15:53
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has stated that the decision of the Republic of Niger to break off diplomatic relations with Ukraine is unreasonable and unfounded. This is stated in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
on 6 August 2024, the Nigerian authorities announced the termination of diplomatic relations, accusing Ukraine of supporting international terrorism and violating the UN Charter.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry strongly rejected these accusations, stressing that they are untrue and do not stand up to any criticism.
“Ukraine has taken note of the decision of the authorities of the Republic of Niger of 6 August 2024 to break off diplomatic relations with Ukraine. The accusations against Ukraine contained in the statement of the representative of the government of this country do not stand up to any criticism, are groundless and untrue,” the statement said.
Ukraine strongly rejects any accusations against it of allegedly “supporting international terrorism, violating the UN Charter and international law”.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry noted that Niger’s decision is a gesture of “solidarity” with those who “chose to get closer to the terrorist country of Russia”, which has been waging an unprovoked full-scale war against Ukraine for more than two years, using, in particular, large-scale terror against its population and civilian infrastructure.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia is committing numerous war crimes against the Ukrainian people, as well as “destabilising the international security and political situation, spreading chaos and confrontation in all parts of the world, including the African continent”.
“It is regrettable that the Nigerian authorities have decided to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine without conducting any investigations into the incident in Mali and without providing any evidence regarding the reasons for such a step,” the Foreign Ministry said.
They noted that Ukraine is committed to further developing mutually beneficial relations with all African states “on the basis of equality, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries within internationally recognised borders, strict adherence to international law, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter”.
The incident took place in late July, when Tuareg rebels attacked a Wagner unit near the Algerian border, resulting in numerous casualties among mercenaries and the Malian military.
A representative of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Andriy Yusov, said that the rebels had received the necessary information to carry out the operation, effectively acknowledging Kyiv’s involvement in the attack.
This statement provoked a sharp reaction from the Malian government, which accused Ukraine of supporting terrorism in Africa and violating Mali’s sovereignty and international law. The Government of Mali announced the immediate severance of diplomatic relations with Ukraine and stated its intention to appeal to the judicial authorities regarding the statements of Ukrainian representatives.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the decision of the transitional government of Mali to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine “short-sighted and hasty” and promised to respond at the political and diplomatic level.
The ministry also noted that Ukraine supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries and “strongly rejects” the transitional government’s accusations of Ukraine’s alleged “support for international terrorism”.
The Ministry recalled that in the twentieth century, as a founding member of the United Nations, Ukraine actively supported the right of African peoples to independence and decolonisation, including the Republic of Mali.
