Diplomatic standoff: Algeria and Mali impose reciprocal flight bans

The governments of Algeria and Mali announced on April 7 a reciprocal flight ban between their airspaces, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

According to Turkish media, the tensions began on April 1, when Algeria’s defense ministry reported that its army had shot down an armed reconnaissance drone for violating Algerian airspace near the rural Sahrawi commune of Tinzaouaten, Caliber.Az reports.

However, Mali disagreed with Algeria’s version of events, claiming that the wreckage of its drone was found 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) south of their shared border.

In response to the incident, Algeria’s Foreign Ministry released data, including radar images, asserting that the drone had violated its airspace by 1.6 kilometers. The ministry cited repeated airspace violations as the reason for its decision to ban all flights to and from Mali.

Mali, however, pushed back by announcing the closure of its airspace to all Algerian aircraft. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure in Mali criticized Algeria for its “persistent sponsorship of international terrorism,” though no specific evidence or examples of such activity were provided. In addition, Mali and its allies, Burkina Faso and Niger, recalled their ambassadors from Algeria for consultations following the incident.

Algeria retaliated on April 7, recalling its ambassadors from Niger and Mali. The country also postponed the start date for its new ambassador to Burkina Faso.

In a joint statement, the three Sahel countries — Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — condemned what they described as the “irresponsible act of the Algerian regime.”

By Tamilla Hasanova