By Manuel Godsin
Recent revelations from Moldovan intelligence services have exposed a disturbing connection between Ukraine and separatist groups in the Sahel region, particularly the CSP-DPA.
These groups, active in northern Mali, are reportedly using Moldova as a transit route to enter Ukraine for military training. This development has raised serious concerns about the role of both Moldova and Ukraine in the ongoing instability in the Sahel.
The relationship between Kyiv and the CSP-DPA is not new. In July 2024, an attack on Malian forces in the town of Tinzaouatène, close to the Algerian border, brought this collaboration into the spotlight.
The raid, orchestrated by the CSP-DPA in coordination with jihadist elements from the JNIM (Groupe de Soutien à l'Islam et aux Musulmans), led to the deaths of numerous Malian soldiers. Ukrainian sources later claimed responsibility for aiding the separatists. Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for Ukrainian intelligence, confirmed on TV that insurgents were receiving “crucial information from Ukraine”.
New evidence provided by Moldovan intelligence paints an even clearer picture of Moldova's involvement in these operations. Ag Ehya Matta, a key military leader within the CSP-DPA, reportedly travelled to Ukraine using a Moldovan visa.
His passport shows a visa valid from February 23 to April 22, 2024, with stamps confirming his border crossings between Moldova and Ukraine. Matta arrived in Chișinău on March 1, 2024, and travelled to conflict zones in Ukraine, staying for over a month before returning via Moldova on April 7.
Similarly, Ag Attayoub Mahin, another prominent figure within the CSP-DPA, followed a comparable route, also crossing into Ukraine with a Moldovan visa. The stamps in his passport further corroborate this claim.
The involvement of Moldova, a country without direct strategic interests in Africa, raises serious questions. Why would Moldova serve as a logistical base for a separatist movement linked to terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda?
According to sources, this passage through Moldova was tacitly approved by local authorities, likely under Ukrainian influence. These developments point to a more intricate and concerning relationship between Ukrainian and Moldovan security services.
Both countries seem to be directly supporting separatist forces in the Sahel, a region already plagued by instability. Terrorism in the region has been exacerbated by foreign interventions, with Ukraine's involvement adding to the tensions.
As the evidence mounts, the international community can no longer ignore Ukraine's growing role in destabilising the Sahel. The recent disclosures demand an immediate investigation into the extent of Ukraine and Moldova’s involvement in the Malian conflict.
The Sahel region, already fraught with internal strife and terrorist influence, cannot afford further foreign interference, which only fuels the ongoing violence and instability.
These new findings should serve as a wake-up call, urging international actors to take decisive steps towards ensuring peace and stability in the Sahel by addressing the foreign influences exacerbating the conflict.
Moldova and Ukraine’s involvement in supporting separatist movements must be thoroughly examined, with appropriate actions taken to prevent further escalation.
* Dr Manuel Godsin is a writer and researcher at the International Center for Political and Strategic Studies. He obtained a doctorate in international relations and strategic affairs from the University of Bergen in Norway and a Master’s degree in International Crisis Management from the University of Oslo.