Diplomatic relations between Algeria and Mali had experienced significant strain in recent years, particularly following the current government’s ascent to power in Mali, which frequently accused Algiers of meddling in its internal affairs.
In a pivotal development for West Africa Mali, the government in Bamako declared the «reopening of national airspace to all civil and military aircraft conducting flights to or from» Algeria, as stated in an official communiqué.
Furthermore, authorities in Mali confirmed the return of their ambassador to Algiers, who had been recalled in April 2025, though a specific date for his resumption of duties was not provided.
Just hours earlier, Algiers had communicated an identical measure concerning its neighbor’s airspace. This decision, effective from Friday, «encompasses all air traffic to and from Mali across various international destinations,» according to a statement released by the Algerian Ministry of Defense.
Mirroring Mali’s action, Algeria also announced on Friday that its own ambassador would be returning to Mali, signaling a mutual effort to mend ties.
Diplomatic Rift Over Downed Drone
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Kamel Retieb, who previously served in Bamako before his recall by Algiers following a dispute ignited by the destruction of a Malian drone by Algerian forces in April 2025, would be resuming his ambassadorial role.
Algiers, historically a pivotal mediator in the 2015 peace accord between Bamako and armed factions in the north, observed its regional influence challenged by Mali’s new leadership. These authorities consistently leveled accusations of Algerian interference in their internal governance.
Since 2012, Mali has grappled with a severe security crisis, fueled by violence from groups aligned with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (EI), alongside various community-based criminal organizations. This context underscores the critical nature of Mali security.
The diplomatic friction between the two nations escalated significantly in the spring of 2025, following the destruction of a Malian military drone in close proximity to their shared border.
Algeria maintained that the aircraft had encroached upon its sovereign airspace, while Mali asserted that the drone was operating within its own national territory.
This incident triggered a full-blown diplomatic crisis, characterized by the recall of ambassadors, the reciprocal closure of airspaces, and a heated exchange of accusations between Algiers and the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger).
Further exacerbating tensions was Mali’s April announcement of support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a stance directly at odds with Algeria’s long-held position. This move significantly impacted Mali politics.
Despite these recent disputes, both nations share an extensive border and face intertwined security challenges, notably the ongoing struggle against active jihadist groups across the Sahel region.
