Algeria and Mali have suspended flights to and from each other’s airspace, their governments announced on Monday, marking a significant escalation in their diplomatic tensions.
- Algeria and Mali have suspended flights to and from each other’s airspace.
- The dispute began after Algeria reported downing a drone violating its airspace near Tinzaouaten.
- Mali contested, claiming the drone wreckage was found south of the border and accused Algeria of sponsoring terrorism.
Algeria and Mali have suspended flights to and from each other’s airspace, their governments announced on Monday, marking a significant escalation in their diplomatic tensions.
The dispute began on April 1, when Algeria’s defence ministry reported that its army had downed an armed surveillance drone for violating the country’s airspace near the Saharan commune of Tinzaouaten, according to Reuters.
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However, Mali contested this, stating that the drone wreckage was found 9.5 kilometres south of the border with Algeria after it was shot down in the night between March 31 and April 1.
In response, Algeria’s Foreign Ministry stated that radar data confirmed a 1.6 km violation of its airspace and justified the flight ban as a result of repeated violations by Mali. Algeria denied any wrongdoing in the drone incident and accused Mali of attempting to deflect attention from its internal issues.
Mali’s transport and infrastructure ministry, in turn, announced the closure of its airspace to Algerian aircraft, accusing Algeria of “persisting in sponsoring international terrorism,” though it did not provide any specific examples or evidence to support the claim.
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Mali and allies recall ambassadors, Algeria retaliates
In the wake of the incident, Mali, along with its allies Burkina Faso and Niger, recalled their ambassadors from Algeria for consultations. Algeria retaliated by recalling its ambassadors to Niger and Mali and postponing the arrival of its new ambassador in Burkina Faso.
The three junta-led countries said in their joint statement that they energetically condemned the “irresponsible act by the Algerian regime.”
