Algeria has banned flights to and from Mali due to “recurrent violations” of its airspace, escalating tensions between the two nations.
This decision comes a week after Algeria shot down a Malian drone near their shared border.
The drone incident has sparked a heated exchange, with Mali accusing Algeria of sponsoring international terrorism and Algeria claiming the drone violated its airspace by over 2 kilometers.
The dispute is linked to the complex regional dynamics in the Sahel region, where Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have been plagued by armed groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda.
These countries, now part of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have been moving away from their traditional ally, France, and strengthening ties with Russia.
Mali’s Prime Minister General Abdoulaye Maiga asserts that Algeria’s actions prove it sponsors international terrorism. The AES has recalled its ambassadors to Algeria, citing Algeria’s “irresponsible act” that violated international law.
The AES considers this act an aggression against their entire confederation, straining historical relations between the peoples of AES and Algeria.
In response to Algeria’s actions, Mali has also closed its airspace to all civilian and military aircraft heading to or from Algeria.
The diplomatic row has deepened, with both sides engaging in a heated war of words.
Algeria has expressed regret over the actions of Niger and Burkina Faso, which it perceives as biased towards Mali’s arguments.
