Algeria and Mali have closed their airspace to each other’s flights, escalating tensions over the downing of a Malian drone near their shared border.
The incident has sparked a diplomatic row, with Mali accusing Algeria of sponsoring terrorism and Algeria dismissing the claims as baseless.
Algeria was the first to impose the airspace ban, citing repeated violations of its sovereignty by Malian aircraft. Mali responded in kind, stating it would reciprocate by banning all Algerian flights.
The dispute intensified after Mali’s foreign ministry described the drone’s downing as a “hostile premeditated action.” Algeria countered, saying the drone had violated its airspace and dismissed Mali’s accusations as “lacking seriousness.”
The drone incident occurred near Tinzaoutin, a border town that serves as a stronghold for Tuareg separatists. Mali claims the drone was shot down 9.5 km inside its territory, while Algeria insists it entered and exited Algerian airspace before returning on an attack trajectory.
Both countries have recalled ambassadors, with Mali summoning Algeria’s envoy in Bamako and threatening to file complaints with international bodies.
The diplomatic fallout also involves Mali’s allies Niger and Burkina Faso, who joined Mali in condemning Algeria’s actions. These nations are part of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a regional bloc formed to address security threats.
The AES claims the drone was targeting a terrorist group planning attacks but was prevented from neutralizing them due to Algeria’s actions.
Relations between Algeria and Mali have deteriorated since Mali’s military took power in 2020. Algeria has deployed troops along its borders to curb infiltration by militants operating in Mali, further straining ties.
The airspace closures mark a significant escalation in their ongoing disputes over security and territorial sovereignty.
Source: Africafeeds.com
