Algeria and Mali restore diplomatic ties, reopen airspaces

The relationship between Algeria and Mali had significantly deteriorated over recent years, particularly since the current Malian government took power, accusing Algiers of meddling in its internal affairs.

Bamako has now declared the «reopening of its national airspace to all civil and military aircraft operating flights originating from or destined for» Algeria, according to an official government statement.

Furthermore, Mali confirmed the return of its ambassador to Algiers, who had been recalled in April 2025, though a specific date for his resumption of duties was not provided.

Just hours earlier, Algiers had announced an identical measure concerning its neighbor’s airspace. This decision became effective this Friday, encompassing «all air traffic to and from Mali via various international destinations,» as detailed in a communiqué from the Algerian Ministry of Defense.

Mirroring Mali’s actions, Algeria also declared on Friday the return of its own ambassador to Mali.

Drone incident fuels tensions

Kamel Retieb, who previously served in Bamako before Algiers recalled him following a dispute ignited by the destruction of a Malian drone by Algerian forces in April 2025, will now resume his ambassadorial post, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Algiers, which had previously played a pivotal role in brokering the 2015 peace accord between Bamako and armed groups in the north, observed its influence challenged by the new Malian authorities, who accused Algeria of internal interference.

Since 2012, Mali has grappled with an escalating security crisis, fueled by violence from groups aligned with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS), alongside communal criminal factions. This highlights the broader West Africa Sahel security challenges.

The diplomatic friction between the two nations intensified in spring 2025, sparked by the downing of a Malian military drone near their shared border.

Algeria maintained that the unmanned aerial vehicle had violated its airspace, while Mali countered, asserting the drone was operating within its own territory.

This incident precipitated a full-blown diplomatic crisis, marked by the recall of ambassadors, the reciprocal closure of airspaces, and a series of accusations exchanged between Algiers and the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger). This was a significant development in Sahel politics today.

Tensions were further exacerbated in April by Mali’s declaration of support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a stance directly at odds with Algeria’s long-held position.

Despite these recent disputes, both nations share a lengthy border and face common security imperatives, particularly the ongoing fight against active jihadist groups across the West Africa Sahel region.