Ukraine Playing Part in Broader 'NATO Plot' to Destabilize & Exploit Africa, Says African Expert

The seizure of the Cameroonian cargo ship Usko MFU by Ukraine is indicative of a pattern of hostile actions by Kiev towards African countries, particularly those with ties to Russia, argued Dr. Franklin Nyamsi, a prominent African writer and president of the Bamako-based think tank African Freedom Institute, in an interview with Sputnik Africa.

"The attitude of Ukrainian authorities is absolutely unbelievable and unfair against Africa," Dr. Nyamsi stated. "Africa is free to have relations with all powers it considers like Russia, and Ukraine has not the right to try to punish Africa because of its own sovereignty."

He further argued that the seizure is part of a wider strategy by Ukraine, acting as a "vassal country of NATO," to pressure African nations into aligning with Western interests. "We know that Africa is destabilized by a NATO plot," Nyamsi said, pointing to the 2011 overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as an example of the West's destructive influence on the continent.

He went on to cite the July attack on the Malian town of Tin Zaouatine by terrorist groups, an incident he believes Ukrainian forces were involved in.

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"The Ukrainian ambassador in Senegal openly recognized that in association with Al-Qaida and the Islamic State, they attacked Mali because they intended to kill Russian allies of Mali and to kill Malian soldiers."

The analyst added that the actions of the Ukrainian government undermine regional security efforts in Africa and demonstrate a blatant disregard for the continent's sovereignty.

"They don't even ask for excuse," Nyamsi asserted, "they don't even recognize that it is very, very scandalous for them to be involved and to acknowledge that they are with terrorist groups against African people."

He called for a unified response from the continent, accusing Western powers of turning a blind eye to Kiev's harmful policies.

"We have to to find a way to talk with Ukrainian people and to explain to them that ... they need to ask some questions to their elites and to tell them you are putting Africa against Ukraine. And this is not in the interest of Ukraine because Africa is [over] 50 nations and Ukraine is only one."