The diplomatic crisis between Algeria and Mali escalated dramatically this week when both countries shut their airspace to each other’s aircraft.
This extraordinary move follows months of tense relations between the two neighbours, with the dispute now pulling in other Sahel states.
Monday saw rapid tit-for-tat actions unfold.
Algeria closed its airspace to all aircraft heading to or from Mali. Bamako swiftly responded with identical measures against Algeria.
Drone Incident Ignites Round of Hostilities
The breaking point came after Algeria’s air defence forces destroyed a Mali military drone.
Algiers maintains the drone violated its airspace by 1.6 kilometres before taking "an offensive trajectory."
However, Mali tells a different story.
Bamako insists the drone was destroyed over its own territory near Tinzaouatène.
Mali's military leadership further claims the drone intended to target "a large meeting of terrorist leaders."
The drone destruction triggered broader diplomatic fallout. Niger and Burkina Faso joined Mali in recalling their ambassadors from Algeria. Members of the Alliance of Sahel States, or AES, acted in solidarity, citing a mutual defence pact.
Algeria responded by recalling its own ambassadors from Mali and Niger. It also delayed the appointment of its new ambassador to Burkina Faso.
Behind the Accusations Lies a Deeper Conflict
What appears as a dispute over airspace boundaries actually masks old grievances.
Mali accused Algeria of sponsoring terrorism, a claim Algeria flatly rejects.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry fired back with strong language: "All these false allegations very imperfectly conceal the search for scapegoats for what remains a coup project that has locked Mali into a spiral of insecurity."
At the heart of this dispute is Algiers’ historical support for Tuareg militants in northern Mali, whom Bamako routinely labels as terrorists. The military government in Mali has rolled back the 2015 Algiers Peace Agreement, which gave autonomy to northern regions.
This step dealt a blow to Algeria’s regional diplomatic standing. The junta’s hawkish approach to northern Mali contradicts Algeria’s view that political solutions, not military ones, are needed.
France Reconciliation Complicates Regional Scene
The Algeria-Mali meltdown comes just as France and Algeria mend their own troubled relationship.
After eight months of discord, the two countries have begun normalising ties.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Algiers on 6 April, meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The meeting yielded promises to restart cooperation mechanisms on security, migration, and economic matters.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Mali. The junta has built its legitimacy partly by cutting ties with France, the former colonial power. Algeria’s rapprochement with Paris likely irks Bamako.
France’s reconciliation with Algeria comes as French forces have completed their withdrawal from the Sahel. The last French base in Chad was handed over to local forces on 30 January.
New Alliances Form As Regional Map Redraws
Mali’s alliance with Niger and Burkina Faso grows stronger. The three countries left the Economic Community of West African States in January, forming AES.
This new bloc seeks to create its own passport system and build joint defence capabilities, including shared air power and intelligence.
Mali has even welcomed Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to Bamako. Both countries face internal conflicts and have pivoted away from Western partnerships toward Russia.
The Mali-Sudan partnership focuses on agriculture, education, and fighting armed groups.
Al-Burhan called for African countries to solve their own problems without "colonial interference."
Meanwhile, a separate regional dispute brews between Benin and its AES neighbours. Burkina Faso and Niger have accused Benin of housing militant rear bases, which Beninese President Patrice Talon denies.
Northern Benin has suffered growing attacks from insurgent groups crossing from Burkina Faso and Niger. Despite these tensions, diplomatic channels remain open, with ambassadors still in place.
Future Relations Hang in the Balance
Experts see little chance of quick resolution between Algeria and Mali.
The military junta in Bamako has dug in its heels on northern Mali policy, while Algeria won’t back down from supporting Tuareg autonomy.
The situation leaves Algeria navigating a delicate balance. It must manage fresh ties with France while handling deteriorating relations with key Sahel neighbours.
For Mali, the airspace closure adds another layer of isolation. Already cut off from ECOWAS, Mali now loses vital northern air routes too.
The standoff has knocked over the diplomatic applecart in the Sahara region. What started as a border incident has blown up into a regional crisis with far-reaching implications for security cooperation.
With both sides showing no signs of backing down, the dispute could rumble on for months. This leaves the door open for other powers to gain a foothold in this strategic region.
Keep up with Daily Euro Times for more updates!
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