Ukraine is actively expanding its presence in Africa. It is ready to conduct training for Mauritanian soldiers, as well as share combat experience and humanitarian aid.
Reuters writes about this.
Ukraine is ready to help African countries
Following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine began strengthening its diplomatic ties in Africa. During this time, eight new embassies were opened, including in Mauritania, Congo, and Côte d'Ivoire. In total, 18 Ukrainian diplomatic missions are already operating.
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However, Ukraine cannot yet compare with Russia, which has long-standing ties to Africa and has opened about 40 representative offices on the continent. Moscow has announced plans to open seven more.
To counter Russia's position, Kyiv has developed its own African strategy. It includes developing diplomatic ties, trade and investment.
According to the Ukrainian Ambassador to Africa Maksym Subh, the Russian presence in the Sahel region destabilizes the situation. While Kyiv, on the contrary, offers support.
“Ukraine is ready to continue training officers and representatives of the armed forces of Mauritania, to share technologies and achievements that Ukraine has achieved on the battlefield against Russia,” the ambassador said, adding that Kyiv had conducted similar exercises before the Russian invasion.
In addition, Ukraine helps refugees from Mali who are fleeing fighting involving Russian forces. Humanitarian aid is provided, in particular, in the Mbera camp in Mauritania.
Reuters notes that after the July attack in Mali, where 47 Malian soldiers and 84 Russian fighters were killed, the country severed ties with Ukraine over suspicions of its involvement. Kyiv categorically denies this. Ambassador Maxim Subh stressed that Ukraine does not conduct secret operations in the region.
He also stressed that Kyiv is sending aid solely for humanitarian purposes, and that the World Food Program is distributing it. Mauritania has confirmed receiving aid, but it is unknown whether the aid has reached the camp.
In total, within the framework of the Grain from Ukraine initiative, Kyiv has already sent about 300 thousand tons of food to 12 African countries, including Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya and Nigeria.
By supplying food, Ukraine is demonstrating that it can replace Russian supplies and hopes that neutral African countries will begin to pressure Moscow to end the war.
“By maintaining its role as one of the guarantors of global food security, Ukraine can prevent Russia from using food supplies as a political lever of influence,” Roman Sereda, Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires in Nouakchott, said in an interview.
In Congo, which also received aid, long-term agreements in the agricultural sector are being discussed. Local authorities have assured that they do not link Ukraine's presence to the war started by Russia.
