Ukraine Sends Drone Experts to Mali, CNN Reports
Approximately 15 specialists from Ukraine are aiding Tuareg rebels in northern Mali against Russian-backed forces, according to a September investigation.
By Isaac Medina ·
The war between Russia and Ukraine has expanded beyond Europe, potentially reaching the desert sands of Africa's Sahel region. A September investigation by the US media outlet CNN reports that approximately 15 Ukrainian drone specialists are currently operating in northern Mali. These experts are supporting Tuareg rebels in their conflict against the military government in Bamako and its Russian allies.
Marta Oliynyk-D'omochko, coordinator of the African Studies Program at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, identifies a clear strategic motive for Kyiv. She stated that Ukraine's primary interest is to weaken Russia's global influence. According to her analysis, reducing Moscow's military presence would also diminish the economic opportunities derived from that influence. Irina Filatova, a professor emeritus at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, agrees the support is plausible but notes she lacks independent evidence to confirm the involvement.
The alleged partners of Ukraine face scrutiny due to their alliances. The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) works with Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), a jihadist group affiliated with al-Qaeda. Suspicions of Ukrainian involvement date back to July 2024, when an ambush on Russian Wagner fighters near Tinzaouaten resulted in heavy losses for the Russian paramilitaries and Malian troops. At that time, HUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov confirmed the Tuareg rebels received necessary information while Ukraine denied direct involvement.
Signals from Kyiv have intensified speculation. On September 7, Kyrylo Budanov, former head of military intelligence and current chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted on X that Ukrainian intelligence protects interests worldwide. He referenced operations in "the burning desert sands" without explicitly naming Mali. CNN reported that the Ukrainians provided drone training, operational planning, and remote support. Deutsche Welle has not independently verified these specific claims.
Deutsche Welle contacted the HUR to determine if personnel were deployed to Mali and if the political leadership approved the mission. The agency did not provide a specific response, stating it might offer information later. Meanwhile, Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop accused Ukraine at the United Nations in September of supporting terrorist groups to undermine the country's territorial integrity. Diop did not provide evidence for this claim, which was reported by Agence France-Presse.
The geopolitical stakes are high for all parties. Following military coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali turned toward Russia, which replaced the Wagner Group with the Africa Corps in 2025. Ulf Laessing, head of the Syria and Iraq program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, noted that the Africa Corps still uses Syria and Libya as transit points for operations on the continent. Filatova argued that setbacks in Mali could tie up Russian resources and undermine Moscow's reputation as a security partner.
Oliynyk-D'omochko describes the relationship between Ukraine and the Tuareg as a tactical arrangement rather than a comprehensive alliance. The FLA focuses on northern Mali and pursues self-determination, distinct from the broader goals of JNIM. Cooperation between Tuareg and Islamist groups dates back to 2011, after the ousting of Muammar al-Gaddafi in Libya. The three Sahel nations of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have severed diplomatic relations with Kyiv to deepen ties with Moscow.
Ukraine faces political risks from this engagement. In many African countries, Tuaregs are viewed as separatists, which could lead to perceptions of Ukrainian interference. Oliynyk-D'omochko warned that such cooperation could undermine Kyiv's message of equal partnerships with African nations. The extent of Ukrainian involvement remains unclear pending a formal response from the HUR.
