Tensions between Algeria and Mali have reached a boiling point following the downing of a drone near their shared border, prompting Algeria to shut its airspace to all Malian flights. The move marks a significant deterioration in relations between the two neighbours and threatens to destabilise an already volatile region.
The dispute erupted after Algeria confirmed it had shot down an armed reconnaissance drone last Wednesday, claiming the aircraft had violated its airspace near the border town of Tinzaoutin. Algerian authorities said the drone had entered its territory, exited, and then returned on what they described as an “attack trajectory”. However, Mali’s military junta swiftly denied the claim, asserting the drone was destroyed 9.5km inside Malian territory, accusing Algeria of a “hostile premeditated action”.
The incident has sparked a flurry of diplomatic responses. Mali summoned the Algerian ambassador in Bamako and announced plans to file a formal complaint with international bodies. In a joint statement, Mali and its allies Burkina Faso and Niger—members of the recently formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—condemned Algeria’s action, stating that the drone was on a mission to neutralise a terrorist group threatening the AES. The AES has since recalled its ambassadors from Algiers and accused Algeria of hindering counter-terrorism operations.
Mali went a step further by pulling out of a regional security alliance that includes Algeria, signalling a sharp shift in diplomatic alignment. In its own statement, Algeria responded with “deep dismay”, dismissing Mali’s accusations as a deliberate distraction from internal security failures. It also claimed this was the third time Mali had breached its airspace in recent months.
“Due to the repeated violations of our airspace by Mali, the Algerian government has decided to close it to air traffic coming from or to Mali, effective today,” the Algerian defence ministry announced on Monday.
The fallout comes against a backdrop of longstanding tensions. Mali is currently battling ethnic Tuareg separatists in the north, many of whom are believed to operate from or take refuge in Algerian territory. Algeria, once a mediator in Mali’s conflict with separatist groups, has seen its influence in the country wane since the Malian military seized power in 2020.
In recent months, Algeria has ramped up its border security, deploying troops to prevent the cross-border movement of jihadists and weapons from Mali. But the drone incident—and the diplomatic breakdown that has followed—underscores the fragility of security and cooperation in the Sahel region.
As both nations dig in, the path forward remains uncertain, with the potential for further deterioration in relations and wider regional implications.
Melissa Enoch
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