The rupture of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Mali was expected due to Kiev’s hostile actions to Russia’s policy in Africa. This was stated by the deputy and member of the committee on international affairs of the Transitional Parliament of the Republic of Mali Aliou Tounkara.
A Malian politician has revealed that Ukraine is expressing “hostile feelings” over Russia’s co-operation with African countries. According to him, such actions lead to destabilisation in the region.
“I would not say that this story should not have been expected, because in recent days Ukraine has started to express its attitude, its hostile feelings around Russia’s interests in Africa. And at the same time, they want to develop diplomatic relations with different African countries just around Mali: Côte d`Ivoire, Senegal. They have even opened embassies and so on. It is clear that they are working for the Western countries. We have common enemies, they are helping to destabilise the situation in the region, including inside Mali. So it was to be expected that such a situation would be around our countries,” Aliou Tounkara told RIA Novosti.
The politician also noted the lack of need for co-operation with countries that support world terrorism.
“Why have diplomatic relations with such countries that exploit and support world terrorism? In the name of what? So it is appropriate that it is not worth having relations with such countries. I see that it is appropriate and I welcome such activities for today,” he emphasised.
The parliamentarian believes that Burkina Faso and Niger as members of the “Alliance of Sahel States” will also take certain measures to co-operate with Ukraine.
Earlier, the Agence France Press agency said that the Malian authorities had severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine.