On Africa¡¯s dry western tip, Mauritania has become an unlikely staging post for Ukraine¡¯s increasingly global struggle with its adversary Russia.

Kyiv¡¯s new embassy in the country¡¯s capital Nouakchott ¡ª among eight it has opened in Africa since Russia¡¯s 2022 invasion of Ukraine ¡ª has overseen food aid deliveries to refugees from neighboring Mali, embassy and aid officials say.

Kyiv is also offering to train Mauritanian soldiers, Ukraine¡¯s top envoy to Africa said, amid tension between Mauritania and Mali, where Moscow backs government forces against Tuareg rebels.