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- October 13, 202617°
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- October 13, 202617°
Algeria and Mali reinstate ambassadors and reopen airspace after 14-month crisis
Algeria and Mali have mutually reinstated their ambassadors and reopened their airspace to flights after a diplomatic crisis lasting about 14 months. The two countries emphasized their determination to return relations to their historic and natural course.
Algeria and Mali have mutually reinstated their ambassadors and reopened their airspace to civilian and military flights after a diplomatic crisis lasting about 14 months.
Mali's transitional government announced on Friday its decision to return its ambassador to Algeria and open Mali's airspace to all flights to and from Algeria. The statement said the decision was taken "as part of revitalizing cooperation and friendship relations between Mali and Algeria."
Algeria took a similar step, sending its Ambassador to Mali, Kemal Retib, back to Bamako as extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador. The Algerian Foreign Ministry stated that President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered the ambassador's return "out of a desire to return Algerian-Malian relations to their historic and natural course based on mutual respect, brotherhood and cooperation."
The Algerian Defense Ministry also announced that as of Friday, Algerian airspace has been reopened to all flights arriving from or departing to Mali. The decision took effect as of July 10, 2026, and covers all international destinations.
Background of the crisis
The crisis between the two countries erupted on April 1, 2025, when the Algerian army shot down an armed reconnaissance drone near the Tin Zawatin border area. Algeria claimed the drone violated its airspace by 2 kilometers, while military officials in Mali described the incident as a "hostile act," asserting the drone was downed inside Malian territory.
Following this incident, Algeria announced on April 7, 2025, that it was closing its airspace to all flights to and from Mali. Mali soon followed suit under the "principle of reciprocity." Both countries withdrew their ambassadors and fully closed their airspace, while political and economic relations largely froze.
Tension had been escalating between the parties even before the drone crisis. Mali announced the termination of the 2015 Algiers Peace Agreement, and the military administration in Bamako accused Algeria of interfering in its internal affairs and hosting opposition groups.
Recent developments are seen as a significant step toward normalizing relations between the two neighboring countries.
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