Fifteen months of diplomatic freeze come to an end

Algiers and Bamako have mutually agreed to reopen their airspaces to both civilian and military flights, marking a critical shift in their relationship. Mali confirmed the return of its ambassador to Algeria, who was recalled in April 2025, while Algeria announced the reinstatement of its diplomatic envoy in Bamako. These actions officially end more than a year of strained relations between the two neighboring states.

Military drone incident sparks crisis

The deterioration of relations between the two countries traces back to April 2025, when a Malian military drone was destroyed near their shared border. Algeria claimed the drone had violated its airspace, a narrative Bamako contested, insisting the aircraft remained within Malian territory. The incident triggered the recall of ambassadors, the closure of airspaces, and a wave of reciprocal accusations between Algeria and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Ongoing disagreements despite shared interests

Beyond this specific episode, tensions between Algiers and Bamako have simmered since the Malian junta took power in 2020 and 2021. The new authorities frequently accuse Algeria of interference, particularly due to its historic role in the 2015 peace agreement between Mali’s government and northern armed groups. Disagreements further intensified after Mali endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara—a stance at odds with Algeria’s position. Despite these differences, both countries share a long border and face common security threats, including the persistent challenge of jihadist groups active in the Sahel region.