The announcement comes as Russia continues to assert its influence in the Sahel, backing military regimes that face separatist and Islamist insurgencies. Ukraine has not yet commented on Niger’s decision, which echoes a similar move by Mali’s military rulers on August 4. Mali accused Ukraine of supporting a rebel attack that resulted in the deaths of numerous Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries, a claim Kyiv has denied.
"The Government of the Republic of Niger, in full solidarity with the Government and people of Mali, has decided, relying on its sovereignty, to sever diplomatic relations between the Republic of Niger and Ukraine. This decision comes into force immediately," government spokesman Abdourahamane Amadou stated in a televised address on August 6.
Last month, armed groups in Mali’s predominantly Tuareg north reported killing at least 47 government soldiers and 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries near the Algerian border. This clash represents one of the most significant defeats for Wagner since it began providing military assistance to Mali’s regime.
Without directly confirming Ukraine’s involvement, Andrey Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), indicated on Ukrainian public television that the rebels had received crucial information necessary to defeat the Russian mercenaries. Yusov’s comments led Mali’s military government to cut ties with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of supporting terrorism and violating Mali’s sovereignty.
Ukraine, engaged in its own battles against Wagner mercenaries in eastern Ukraine, rejected Mali’s accusations. “Ukraine unconditionally adheres to the norms of international law, the inviolability of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries, and resolutely rejects the accusations of the Transitional Government of Mali of alleged support of international terrorism,” the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on August 5.
Russia has been extending its influence in Africa by offering regime protection and other services to authoritarian governments. Recently, it has expanded into Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger amidst a wave of military coups sweeping through the Sahel region.
Further complicating the regional dynamics, on August 6, approximately 40 individuals were arrested in northern Nigeria, near the Niger border, for waving Russian flags during protests against the high cost of living and government policies.
In a related development, the United States transferred control of Airbase 201 in Agadez to Nigerien authorities on August 5, following the earlier withdrawal from Airbase 101 in Niamey. These bases were crucial for U.S. counterterrorism operations in the region. The withdrawal was part of an agreement between Washington and Nigerien authorities, with U.S. troops scheduled to leave the country by September 15.
Wagner’s future became uncertain following the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a plane crash in August 2023, two months after leading a brief mutiny against Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many Wagner mercenaries who did not sign contracts with Russia’s Defense Ministry are believed to have relocated to Africa.
As the geopolitical landscape of the Sahel continues to evolve, the severance of diplomatic ties between Niger and Ukraine highlights the growing influence of external powers like Russia and the shifting allegiances of regional governments. The international community watches closely as these developments unfold, impacting both local stability and broader global relations.