Algeria and Mali suspend flights due to ongoing diplomatic tensions

On Monday, the governments of Algeria and Mali announced a ban on flights to and from each other’s airspace, in light of a growing diplomatic crisis.

On April 1, Algeria’s defense ministry announced that the army had downed an armed surveillance drone for breaching the airspace of the North African nation near the rural Saharan commune of Tinzaouaten. Mali expressed its disagreement, pointing out that the wreckage of its drone was discovered 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) south of their mutual border.

On Monday, Algeria’s Foreign Ministry announced that data pertaining to the incident, including radar images, indicated a breach of Algerian airspace by 1.6 km. It announced a ban on flights to and from Mali because of repeated violations of Algerian airspace.

Mali’s transport and infrastructure ministry announced the closure of its airspace to all Algerian aircraft, citing Algeria’s “persistence in sponsoring international terrorism,” though it did not provide specific examples or evidence to support this claim.

Mali, along with its allies Burkina Faso and Niger, announced on Sunday that they have recalled their ambassadors from Algeria for consultations regarding the incident. On Monday, Algeria took action by recalling its ambassador to Niger and Mali, while also delaying the commencement of its new ambassador in Burkina Faso.

The three Sahel countries issued a joint statement denouncing the “irresponsible act by the Algerian regime”.