History is replete with government officials who put their foot in their mouth, often with dire consequences for their countries. A striking recent example involves Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yosov, who revealed in a public broadcast on July 29 that Ukraine had provided crucial intelligence for a Malian rebel attack that claimed the lives of Malian government troops and mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group.

On getting wind of this boastful disclosure, the Mali government expressed “deep shock” and immediately cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine.

The Malians’ move must have been a significant blow to the Ukrainian government, which has done all it can to get international support and solidarity – including from African countries – since Russia invaded its territory in February 2022, sparking a war that rages to this day.

The consequences of Yosov’s utterances extended beyond the diplomatic fallout with Mali. The Economic Community of West African States – from which Mali, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, is in the process of withdrawing – felt compelled to issue a statement condemning outside interference in the region, which could pose a threat to peace and security.

Ukraine’s involvement in the conflict in Mali is not its first military engagement in Africa, with reports having surfaced in February that its forces have been supporting the Sudanese army in its war against the Rapid Support Forces militia, which is reportedly backed by the Wagner Group. This undermines Ukraine’s credibility in Africa – where it should be emphasising the immorality of Russia’s invasion, which has been ongoing for about 30 months now. As former victims of imperialism themselves, African nations would have been receptive to this narrative. Unfortunately, Ukraine’s recent actions have likely sabotaged its own efforts to gain support on the continent.

The Ukrainian military intelligence official isn’t the only one who has displayed such indiscretion in recent months. Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa also found himself in a similar situation in June. During a meeting in St Petersburg with his Russian opposite number, he moaned about the US “consolidating its power” in Zambia through increased security and financial aid. “The US is making us feel lonely,” he added, apparently unaware that the camera people from the Russian Presidency’s media team who were recording the meeting would share the footage with international broadcasters.

The Zambians did not take kindly to this “snitching”. In a Parliamentary address, Foreign Affairs Minister Mulambo Haimbe said the Zambian government intended to seek help from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union to deal with the dispute between the two neighbours “decisively and conclusively”.

Whether there has been any resolution remains unclear. However, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema’s decision to stay away from last month’s SADC summit in Harare – opting to send his Foreign Affairs Minister in his place – suggests otherwise.

What raised eyebrows about Hichilema’s no-show is that, as chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security from August 2023 to August 2024, he was expected to participate in a handover-takeover ceremony with his successor, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, on the eve of the summit. Instead, he chose to participate virtually, on the same day he launched the $600-million Kitumba mining project, in Zambia’s Central province.

Another African President known for putting his foot in his mouth is Kenya’s William Ruto. Followers of East African news will recall how, in February 2022, while serving as Vice President, he alienated the Congolese by referring to them at a rally as “high-waist-trouser wearers and musicians”.

At the time, campaigning for the August 2022 elections that would propel Ruto to the top job was in full swing. These remarks were made within the context of his pledge to uplift the Kenyan agricultural sector. He added: “We have a market [for beef] in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These people are just singers. There is a population of about 90-million people, but they do not own a single cow.”

The backlash was such that the Kenyan embassy in Kinshasa had to issue a public apology.

Thankfully, Ruto has avoided similar indiscretions since taking office in August 2022. One can only hope this remains the case throughout his current term and, should he triumph again in 2027, throughout a potential second term.