From crisis to cooperation: Fifteen months of diplomatic tension

Alger and Bamako have jointly decided to lift restrictions on their airspaces, allowing both civilian and military flights to resume. The Malian government confirmed the imminent return of its ambassador to Algeria, withdrawn in April 2025, while Algeria will also reinstate its diplomatic representative in Bamako. These measures officially mark the conclusion of over fifteen months of diplomatic estrangement between the two nations.

The drone incident that sparked the dispute

Relations between Algeria and Mali deteriorated sharply following the April 2025 incident involving a Malian military drone near their shared border. Algeria claimed the drone had violated its airspace, a narrative contested by Bamako, which insisted the aircraft was operating within Malian territory. The disagreement escalated into a full-blown diplomatic crisis, prompting the recall of ambassadors, the closure of airspaces, and a series of mutual accusations between Algeria and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Shared challenges amid lingering disagreements

Beyond the drone controversy, tensions between Algeria and Mali have simmered since the Malian junta assumed power in 2020 and 2021. The transitional authorities in Bamako have repeatedly accused Algeria of interference, particularly citing its historical role in the 2015 peace accord between Mali and northern armed groups. Divergences further widened after Mali publicly endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a stance diametrically opposed to Algeria’s position. Despite these persistent differences, both countries share a lengthy border and face common security threats, notably the ongoing jihadist insurgency plaguing the Sahel region.