Mali Orders Sweden’s Ambassador to Leave Amid Diplomatic Tensions

In a move that has sparked diplomatic tensions, Mali has ordered Sweden’s ambassador, Kristina Kuhnel, to leave the country within 72 hours. The decision comes after a Swedish minister made a statement that the Malian government deemed "hostile".

The expulsion follows Mali’s announcement on Monday that it was severing diplomatic ties with Ukraine. The Malian government accused a senior Ukrainian official of suggesting that Kyiv had provided support to Tuareg rebels who claimed to have killed dozens of mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group and Malian soldiers in July.

Ukraine has denied any involvement in the fighting in northern Mali. The decision to cut ties with Kyiv was prompted by Sweden’s minister for international development cooperation and trade, Johan Forssell, who announced on Wednesday that the government would phase out bilateral aid to Mali due to its ties to Moscow.

Forssell’s statement on social media platform X sparked outrage in Bamako, with the Malian government calling his comments "hostile". The minister’s statement read: "You cannot support Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and at the same time receive several hundred million kronor each year in development aid."

Sweden has provided more than $330 million in assistance to Mali over the past decade. The move is seen as a significant escalation in the diplomatic tensions between Mali and the West, which have been fraying since a military junta seized power in 2020 and staged another coup the following year.

Mali and its neighbours, Niger and Burkina Faso, have also pivoted away from their traditional Western allies to form closer ties with Russia. The development has raised concerns about the growing influence of Russia in the region.

The expulsion of the Swedish ambassador is a clear indication of the deteriorating relations between Mali and the West. The situation is likely to have significant implications for the region and the global community.