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Niger’s military junta severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine this month, the latest West African country to do so, underscoring major diplomatic shifts in the coup-plagued region where military governments are switching allegiances toward Russia, the BBC reported.

Junta officials said the decision was made in “solidarity” with neighboring Mali, which broke off relations with Ukraine earlier this month over allegations that Kyiv was involved in a July attack that killed dozens of Malian soldiers and mercenaries supplied by Russia’s Wagner Group.

Malian officials accused Ukraine of aiding the separatist rebels after Andriy Yusov, a Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman, said in an interview that the insurgents “received the necessary information” for their attacks near Mali’s border with Algeria last month.

Yusov did not explicitly confirm Kyiv’s involvement, but Ukrainian officials later rejected the allegations and emphasized their commitment to international law and sovereignty, according to Radio Free Europe.

Still, Russia blamed Kyiv for opening a “second front” in Africa.

The row underscores a tug-of-war between Russia, Ukraine and Western nations in the Sahel region, which has been plagued by military coups and years-long insurgencies, often involving Islamist militants.

Military regimes in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have increasingly aligned with Moscow and distanced themselves from Western powers, such as France and the United States.

Wagner mercenaries have been active in Mali since 2021, assisting the military regime with its security issues. Meanwhile, the US has withdrawn from its military bases in Niger following last year’s military takeover.

Amid the ongoing conflict at home, Ukraine has been actively seeking to build alliances in Africa to counterbalance Russia’s influence. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has made a number of visits to African nations, including Malawi, Zambia and Mauritius.

The recent diplomatic overtures mirror the rivalry between China and Taiwan: In previous years, Beijing has enticed some of Taipei’s traditional allies to switch sides using various economic and security agreements and aid, according to Al Jazeera.

Earlier this year, the Pacific island of Nauru became the latest country to sever diplomatic ties with Taipei, reducing the number of countries that are still upholding relations with Taiwan to 12.