The Republic of Niger strongly condemns Ukraine's active and open support for the terrorists who committed a cowardly attack in northern Mali, said Bakary Yaou Sangare, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Nigerien Affairs of Niger, speaking at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
Speaking about the establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States by the leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in 2023, which formed a confederation of these countries in July of this year, he noted that "this new strategic alliance will eventually evolve into a federation and possesses significant natural resource potential."
"These resources have become the object of desire for Western powers, which finance and arm terrorist groups with the aim of destabilizing our countries," emphasized the minister. "Niger once again strongly condemns these hostile acts and rejects any forms of support for terrorism, particularly the active and open support provided by Ukraine to the terrorist coalition that carried out a cowardly raid near Tinzaouaten in Mali."
Sangare also condemned the new enslavement strategy pursued by France, which trains, finances, and arms terrorists in the Sahel, providing them with intelligence.
The FM expressed gratitude to Russia, among other "brotherly and friendly countries that assist Niger in the process of rebuilding statehood."
Speaking at the same event, Sangare's Burkinabe counterpart also expressed concern about Ukraine's support for terrorism.
"This sponsorship of terrorists was demonstrated to the world recently by Ukraine's paradoxical position, which unequivocally claimed involvement in a terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of Malian soldiers in July in Tinzaouaten," said Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore. "We condemn such acts of aggression and the endorsement of terrorism contrary to UN conventions."
He also reminded that the Sahel countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—have drawn attention to this situation by sending a letter to the chairman of the UN Security Council condemning Ukraine's support of international terrorism and are awaiting a response from the council.
At the same time, according to Traore, thanks to strategic defense reforms, the government and the army have managed to regain control over 70% of the territories compared to 40% in 2022, resulting in 700,000 displaced persons being able to return to their villages and 1,500 schools in liberated areas resuming their educational activities.