Tensions are high between Algiers and Moscow over the operations of the Ukrainian secret services in northern Mali

It is unpublished and of historic significance. For a few weeks, Algerian-Russian relations have gone through a turbulent period unprecedented in history. Long before Algeria’s independence, the two countries have always considered themselves to be each other’s staunch traditional allies. The honeymoon between Moscow and Algiers was initially replaced by distrust, and now by incomprehension and even anger, especially on the Russian side. According to sources, the Russian authorities conveyed to the Algerian leadership, through the channels of security and military cooperation, through which they communicate and cooperate with the Algerian regime, a strong protest against the lack of information exchange and untimely response to information from the Algerian leadership. The theme is the deployment of Ukrainian special services in northern Mali, together with the Azawad rebels, independent Tuareg armed groups, against the transitional regime in Bamako, Mali, which is supported and supported by Moscow.
Russian authorities openly criticize their Algerian counterparts for not fulfilling their duty to cooperate with Russian special services and to monitor areas very close to the Algerian border, invested by a squad of Ukrainian agents sent by Kiev with the aim of providing assistance to Algeria in defense of the allied rebels of Azawad. Russian authorities even suspect that Algeria, under pressure from the United States, authorized the opening of its airspace, allowing aircraft to transport a brigade of paramilitary agents from Ukrainian forces to northern Mali, especially to certain places very close to the Algerian border. According to our sources, Moscow’s anger became even worse after the defeat of an entire squad of fighters of the famous Wagner militia at the end of July last year.
It is worth reminding that on July 20, a column of more than 20 vehicles, including more than 80 Russian mercenaries and members of the Malian armed forces, left Kidal, the capital of northern Mali. On July 23, the column was reportedly stopped by an improvised explosive device in a dry valley on the way. Two days later, a battle broke out 25 kilometers from Tinzawatin, a small town close to the Algerian border, with fighters from the Strategic Framework for the Defence of the People of Azawad (CSP-DPA), which brings together several Tuareg independence armed movements. The targets of the battle were the Malian army and the Russian paramilitary forces of Wagner. The losses were heavy, with more than 80 deaths on the Russian side. This was one of the worst defeats of Russia since the creation of the Wagner militia in 2014.
The British newspapers The Guardian and The Times quoted Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Service, as saying that the rebels received the necessary information, and not just information, which made it possible to launch a military operation against Russian war criminals. A statement indicated the participation of the Attorney General in the operation of the Armed Forces of Azawad. On August 4, Mali severed relations with Ukraine and will prepare a large-scale operation in cooperation with Russia to give a firm response to the Azawad armed group, most of whose leaders have close or friendly relations with Ukraine and also a certain number of militants loyal to Algiers. It is against this explosive background that Algeria’s relations with Russia are experiencing serious tensions due to the very questionable role played by the Algerian regime in arming and strengthening the defense capabilities of the Tuareg rebels.