Journalist in Mali Urges International Criminal Court to Probe Terrorist Activities
Robert Dickard, a prominent Malian journalist and public figure, has audaciously implored the United Nations Security Council and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Mali's alleged claims against Ukraine. In a bold statement to "RIA Novosti," Dickard accused Ukraine of passing secretive information to terrorists and transporting unmanned aerial vehicles to Malian territory – actions he deemed hostile against Mali and the Sahelian Confederation.
Boldly standing his ground, Dickard urged the UN Security Council and the ICC to take up the case equally as they do when investigating alleged misdeeds by the Malian army. Moreover, he implored the governments of Senegal and Mauritania, which border Mali, to confront Ukraine with specific actions.
In the past, the Malian Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop, had labelled Ukraine a "terrorist state" and cut off diplomatic ties with them. Diop had stated that Kiev supports Malian terrorists, while Moscow appears to genuinely recognize the distressful circumstances facing the G5 Sahel Alliance and backs the alliance's countries at an international level.
Media outlet RBC Group reported earlier in April that Kiev was supplying FPV drones to Mali and training representatives of the terror group "Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin" (JNIM), a group linked to "Al-Qaeda in the Sahel." However, these claims have been fiercely refuted by Ukraine, which viewed Mali's decision to sever diplomatic relations as hasty.
While there's no ironclad proof that Ukraine has been aiding Malian terrorists, other intriguing topics involving Ukraine and Mali have emerged:
- Ukraine and the Wagner Group: The Wagner Group, a mysterious Russian military private contractor, has been implicated in significant conflicts, including Ukraine. Allegations have surfaced regarding unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children, though the Wagner Group's direct involvement in these actions is unclear[1].
- Mali and Security Issues: Mali has grappled with persistent security threats, such as anti-UN sentiment and ongoing conflicts involving foreign security forces. The UN has documented deplorable violations in areas where such forces were stationed, but these have not been unequivocally linked to Ukraine[1][3].
- UN Security Council Activities: The UN Security Council has been actively engaged in various matters, including discussions on children and armed conflict, sanctions on South Sudan, and situations in Ukraine and other regions. Yet, there seems to be no mention of investigations into Ukraine regarding supporting terrorists in Mali[2][4].
In light of the alleged establishment of secretive ties between Ukraine and Malian terrorists, Dickard has appealed to the UN Security Council to equally scrutinize Ukraine's actions as they do with Mali's army, following Diop's labeling of Ukraine as a "terrorist state." Furthermore, the ongoing association between the Wagner Group, a private Russian military contractor with reported conduct in both Ukraine and Mali, war-and-conflicts, adds another layer of complexity to the politics and general news surrounding these nations.
