Algeria, Mali Diplomatic Row Escalates Over Drone Incident

Tensions between Algeria and Mali intensified following the downing of a drone near their shared border, sparking reciprocal airspace closures and diplomatic confrontations. 

On Wednesday, 2nd April 2025, Algerian forces shot down an “armed reconnaissance drone” near the border town of Tinzaoutin, asserting that the aircraft had penetrated 2 km into its airspace. Mali disputed this, claiming the wreckage was found 9.5 km within its territory. Algeria later clarified that the drone initially entered its airspace, exited, and then returned on an “attack trajectory.” 

Algeria has swiftly banned all flights to and from Mali, prompting Mali to retaliate by closing its airspace to Algerian aircraft “in reciprocation” on Sunday. 

Mali’s Foreign Ministry accused Algeria of sponsoring terrorism, labeling the drone’s destruction a “hostile premeditated act,” and summoned Algeria’s ambassador. The allegations were dismissed by Algeria as “lacking seriousness.” 

Mali, alongside allies Niger and Burkina Faso—members of the junta-led Alliance of Sahel States (AES)— have recalled their ambassadors from Algiers. The AES condemned Algeria, alleging the drone strike hindered counterterrorism efforts against a group plotting attacks. Mali also withdrew from a regional security body including Algeria and pledged to file a complaint with international institutions. 

On Monday, Algeria expressed “deep dismay” over Mali’s claims, denouncing them as a diversion from Mali’s governance challenges. It further closed its airspace to Malian flights, citing three recent airspace violations, and deployed troops along the border to curb militant infiltration from Mali’s jihadist-prone Sahel region. 

The dispute highlights a deteriorating diplomatic relationship since Mali’s 2020 coup, which strained Algeria’s role as a mediator in Mali’s decade-long conflict with Tuareg separatists. Tinzaoutin, a Tuareg stronghold straddling the border, remains a flashpoint. Algeria has historically accused Mali of sheltering separatists, while Mali alleges Algerian support for these groups. 

The AES, formed in 2023, consolidates junta-led cooperation amid regional instability. Their joint stance against Algeria highlights shifting alliances in the Sahel, where counterterrorism efforts increasingly intersect with geopolitical friction. 

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) condemned Algeria’s downing of the drone as “an act of aggression against the entire confederation” and “incompatible with the longstanding fraternal ties between the AES nations and the Algerian people.” The bloc also announced the recall of its ambassadors from Algiers for consultations, accusing Algeria of contributing to “regional destabilization.”

In a statement, the AES asserted that the destruction of the aircraft—which was operating near Algeria’s Tin Zaouatine border area on March 31–April 1—had obstructed a mission to “neutralize a terrorist group plotting attacks against the alliance.

Separately, Mali’s military-appointed Prime Minister, General Abdoulaye Maïga, escalated tensions by claiming the incident exposed Algeria’s role as “a state sponsor of international terrorism.”

Algeria’s recent border mobilization aims to thwart arms and militant trafficking, reflecting heightened security concerns as Mali’s conflict with northern rebels persists. The incident underscores the fragile interplay between regional security and diplomatic ties in North and West Africa.