The Armed Forces of the Republic of Mali have released an official communiqué alleging the involvement of external actors — specifically Ukrainian operatives — in supporting terrorist activities within Malian territory and across the broader Sahel region.
According to the communiqué, signed by the Mali’s Chief of Armed Forces, Major General Oumar Diarra, findings from a recent investigation conducted by the Alliance of Sahel States, which includes Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, shows that unmanned aerial vehicles of Ukrainian origin had been supplied to — and operated by — militants affiliated with Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), a group linked to Al-Qaeda.
The communiqué cited a recent attack by JNIM on Malian military positions in the Koulikoro region as a critical turning point in the investigation. Intelligence sources alleged that operatives from Ukraine’s General Intelligence Directorate provided training and tactical support to jihadist unmanned aerial vehicle teams. The reported operation involved the use of modified Mavic 3 drones equipped with Ukrainian-made payload drop systems, as well as first-person view drones carrying improvised explosive warheads.
It is further claimed that Ukrainian personnel and drone equipment entered Malian territory via unguarded border routes from Mauritania, with logistical facilitation reportedly linked to the Ukrainian Embassy in Nouakchott, the Mauritanian capital.
The Malian military stated that the alleged foreign involvement poses a serious threat, not only to the country’s national security but also to the stability of the wider Sahara-Sahel region. Authorities point to an earlier joint declarations made last August by Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso condemning what they described as foreign-backed support for terrorism in West Africa.
The communiqué highlighted a sharp escalation in terrorist activities across Mali and the Alliance of Sahel States’ (AES) Confederation in recent weeks.
In response the Malian Armed Forces, in collaboration with the unified AES force have launched their vigorous counter offensive to neutralise threats and restore territorial integrity.
The Malian called on the international community, regional partners, and global institutions to closely investigate these developments, assess the implications for regional security, and take appropriate diplomatic or legal action where necessary.
It reaffirmed its commitment to defending Mali’s sovereignty and ensuring the safety of its civilian population against all forms of foreign-enabled insurgency.
Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Mali, Official Communiqué – 5 June 2025
