Algeria-Mali drone row triggers diplomatic rift

Algeria recalled its ambassador from Bamako Monday and closed its airspace to all flights to and from Mali, escalating a diplomatic row over the alleged downing of a Malian drone by Algeria. Algiers accused Mali of repeated airspace violations and said the measures were a response to “provocative acts” by its southern neighbour.

In a joint move on Sunday, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—members of the military-led Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—had recalled their ambassadors from Algiers, accusing Algeria of shooting down a Malian drone over its territory last week.

Algeria’s foreign ministry described the allegations as “false” and said Mali’s government was attempting to deflect from the “failure of a putschist project.” It also postponed the deployment of a new ambassador to Burkina Faso.

The diplomatic rift highlights growing regional strains as Algeria seeks to contain instability from northern Mali, where separatist and jihadist violence threatens to spill across its border.