Diplomatic relations between Algeria and Mali had significantly worsened over recent years, particularly following the current Malian government’s ascent to power, which accused Algiers of meddling in its internal affairs.
Bamako declared the «reopening of its national airspace to all civilian and military aircraft operating flights to or from» Algeria, according to a government statement.
Furthermore, Mali announced the recall of its ambassador to Algiers, who had been withdrawn in April 2025, would now see their return, though a specific date was not provided.
Just hours prior, Algiers had communicated an identical measure concerning its neighbor’s airspace. This decision, effective from Friday, «encompasses all air traffic to and from Mali via various international destinations,» as stated by the Algerian Ministry of Defense in its own communiqué.
Mirroring Mali’s action, Algeria also confirmed on Friday the return of its ambassador to Mali.
Drone incident
Kamel Retieb, who previously served in Bamako before Algiers recalled him following a dispute ignited by the destruction of a Malian drone by Algerian forces in April 2025, will resume his ambassadorial duties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed.
Algiers, once a pivotal mediator in the 2015 peace accord between Bamako and northern armed groups, has seen its influence challenged by Mali’s new leadership, which continues to accuse Algeria of internal interference.
Since 2012, Mali has grappled with an escalating security crisis, fueled by violence from groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS), alongside community-based criminal gangs. This situation highlights the complex Sahel politics.
The diplomatic rift between the two nations deepened significantly in spring 2025 following the destruction of a Malian military drone near their shared border.
Algeria maintained that the aircraft had encroached upon its airspace, while Mali asserted that the drone remained within its own territory.
This incident triggered a full-blown diplomatic crisis, characterized by the recall of ambassadors, reciprocal airspace closures, and a series of accusations exchanged between Algiers and the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger). This provided a crucial Sahel analysis.
Tensions were further exacerbated by Mali’s April announcement of support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a stance directly at odds with Algeria’s long-standing position.
Despite these recent disagreements, both nations share an extensive border and face common security challenges, most notably the ongoing fight against jihadist groups active across the Sahel region. This underscores the importance of West Africa insider news.
