Mali sues Algeria before the ICJ for downing a drone close to the border
The Ministry of Territorial Administration of Mali announced Thursday that the transitional government of Mali had launched a case against Algeria at the International Court of Justice, charging the neighbor of aggression for shooting down a Malian military reconnaissance drone.
During the night of March 31 to April 1 near Tinzaouaten in Mali’s Kidal district, Algeria allegedly shot down its drone on purpose along their shared desert border. Mali said the downing was done to obstruct Malian forces’ ability to deal with armed groups.
“This blatant aggression, which the government strongly denounces and whose aim was to hinder the neutralisation of armed terrorist groups by the Malian Armed and Security Forces, is the culmination of a series of hostile acts and malicious actions, repeatedly denounced by the Malian authorities,” it stated in a statement.
Mali said the drone breached Algerian airspace and that it was a hostile act that violated the principle of non-use of force. It also said it had constantly requested proof from Algerian authorities that the drone had done so, but had not replied.
The foreign ministry of Algeria was not immediately available for comment.
An armed surveillance drone that had infringed on Algerian airspace close to the border was shot down by Algerian forces, according to prior statements.
