Mali asked the Swedish ambassador to leave the country amid strained relations with the West.
The ambassador was ordered on August 9 to leave the country within 72 hours following what Bamako considered hostile statements.
The decision came following Mali’s decision to cut ties with Ukraine over an ambush that killed many Malian soldiers and Wagner’s armed men north of the country by Tuareg rebels.
”You can’t support Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and at the same time receive several hundred million kronor each year in development aid,” said Swidish Ambassador Johan Forssell on social media platform X.
“The government has therefore decided to phase out Sweden’s bilateral aid strategy with Mali in 2024.”
In January, the government in Stockholm announced it would end its development aid to Mali this year. In the past decade, Sweden has provided more than $330 million in assistance to the West African nation.