Diplomatic tensions Russia Ukraine flare up in east africa over Congo crisis
An East African diplomatic tour has unexpectedly reignited verbal clashes between Moscow and Kiev. On July 10, during a joint press conference with Burundian counterpart Édouard Bizimana in Bujumbura, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged the presence of Ukrainian nationals supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, alongside Congolese forces and Burundi. Ukrainian authorities swiftly dismissed the claim the following day.
Unverified allegations raised in Burundi
The accusations came as Lavrov concluded talks with Évariste Ndayishimiye, then-chair of the African Union, without providing concrete evidence or further details about the alleged Ukrainian involvement. The M23, listed as a sanctioned armed group by the United Nations, has maintained control over vast areas of North-Kivu and South-Kivu provinces since capturing Goma in early 2025. Multiple United Nations expert reports have documented its supply lines, primarily linked to the Rwandan Defence Forces.
Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, labeled Lavrov‘s remarks as baseless disinformation. He countered by accusing Russia of violating international sanctions by arming militant factions and recruiting fighters from African nations to fight in Ukraine. According to Tykhyi, Moscow’s strategy aims to undermine American-led mediation efforts in the Great Lakes region.
Past controversies undermine Kyiv’s credibility
In late July 2024, a convoy of Wagner Group mercenaries and Malian soldiers was ambushed in northern Mali by Tuareg rebels and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), resulting in dozens of casualties on both sides. Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov claimed on July 29 via public broadcaster Suspilne that the attackers had received detailed intelligence from Ukrainian operatives. Kyiv later retracted its statement amid persistent doubts from Bamako and Niamey. By August 2024, Mali and Niger severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine—a decision soon followed by Burkina Faso. Bamako has since escalated the matter to the United Nations Security Council.
Similar patterns emerge in Sudan’s conflict
The ongoing civil war in Sudan, pitting the national army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has witnessed comparable narratives. By late 2023, reports surfaced about a shadowy Ukrainian unit dubbed « Timur » operating within the GUR, though Kyiv neither confirmed nor denied its existence. In January 2024, unverified videos began circulating, allegedly showing drone strikes against alleged Russian mercenaries and allied fighters. By October 2025, Sudan’s military declared it had killed foreign fighters, including Colombians and Ukrainians, who had joined the RSF during clashes in El-Fasher.
These incidents cast doubt on Ukraine’s rebuttal in the DRC case. In Mali, an official spokesperson initially claimed involvement before backtracking. In Sudan, ambiguity persists without resolution. For the M23, no Ukrainian source—official or otherwise—has substantiated any connection. The Congolese dossier remains unverified as Lavrov continues his African tour ahead of the third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled for October 28–29 in Moscow.
