Algeria and Mali suspend flights due to a diplomatic conflict

Algeria and Mali have suspended flights to and from each other’s airspace, as announced by their governments on Monday, amid a growing diplomatic conflict.

On April 1, Algeria‘s defense ministry reported that its military had downed an armed surveillance drone that had breached its airspace near the remote Saharan area of Tinzaouaten. In contrast, Mali contended that the wreckage of its drone was discovered 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) south of the border they share.

On Monday, Algeria’s Foreign Ministry stated that evidence from the incident, including radar data, indicated a breach of its airspace by 1.6 kilometers. Consequently, it announced a ban on flights to and from Mali due to ongoing violations of its airspace. In retaliation, Mali’s transport and infrastructure ministry declared that it had closed its airspace to all Algerian aircraft, citing Algeria’s “persistent support for international terrorism,” although it did not provide specific instances or evidence to substantiate this claim.

In response to the situation, Mali, along with its allies Burkina Faso and Niger, recalled their ambassadors from Algeria for consultations, as stated on Sunday. Algeria retaliated on Monday by recalling its ambassador to Niger and Mali and delaying the appointment of its new ambassador to Burkina Faso. The three Sahel nations issued a joint statement condemning what they termed the “irresponsible act by the Algerian regime.”