Ahmad 
Sweden has announced its decision to stop providing development aid to the Republic of Mali, following the latter’s severing of diplomatic relations with Ukraine.
The announcement was made by the Swedish Minister of Trade and Foreign Aid, Johan Forssell, who confirmed via his account on the “X” website that continuing to provide aid to Mali while the latter supports the Russian war against Ukraine is unacceptable.
Forssell explained that the Swedish government has decided to gradually cancel the bilateral aid strategy for Mali starting in 2024.
He added that the decision reflects the Swedish position rejecting support provided to Mali at a time when Russia is waging an illegal war against Ukraine.
It is worth noting that the Swedish government has also suspended two major projects it funds in Mali and Kenya, after suspicions of corruption emerged.
Mali’s decision to sever its relations with Ukraine came after statements by a Ukrainian official who claimed that his country had provided rebels in Mali with intelligence information that led to the killing of several soldiers and members of the Russian Wagner Group.
In the same context, Niger followed Mali’s lead and severed its relations with Ukraine, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, which also witnessed military coups, are facing political crises as military dominance continues in these countries, which are characterized by hostility to the West and tendencies close to Russia.
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