BAMAKO – Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has formally presented his nation’s condolences to Malian President Assimi Goïta, following the terrorist attacks that occurred in Tinzaouatene at the end of July.
According to Burkina Information Agency, who spoke in Bamako on Monday, the gesture was meant to honor the memory of the Malian soldiers who were killed. “Allow me to bow to the memory of our Malian brothers who fell on the field of honor a few days ago (in Tinzaouatene, editor’s note), present in the name of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, in my name, on behalf of the government and on behalf of all the Senegalese people, to reiterate our most sincere and saddened condolences,” he declared following his meeting with President Goïta.
The attacks involved terrorists supported by Ukrainian soldiers, targeting the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) in northern Mali. These incidents have heightened tensions in the region, notably leading to the Ukrainian ambassador to Senegal being summoned by Senegalese diplomats after he publicly welcomed the attacks, which also affected Russian military instructors working with the FAMA.
In response to these developments, Bamako has cut its diplomatic ties with Kyiv, accusing it of aligning with forces that support international terrorism in the Sahel region.