In a surprising move that reflects the deterioration of bilateral relations, the governments of Algeria and Mali announced on Monday, April 7, 2025, the closure of their respective airspaces to flights to and from each other’s territories. This diplomatic escalation adds to a series of political and security tensions that have clouded the region in recent months.

The crisis began to intensify following a statement from the Algerian Ministry of Defense, announcing that a weaponized drone had been shot down after allegedly violating Algerian airspace near the border town of Tinzaouatine. Algeria claimed the drone came from Malian territory, describing the incident as a “blatant violation of its sovereignty.” Mali, however, denied the accusations, stating that the drone crashed within its borders, specifically 9.5 kilometers south of the frontier—casting doubt on Algeria’s narrative.

Political reactions were swift. Mali recalled its ambassador from Algiers for consultations, prompting a reciprocal move from Algeria, which withdrew its diplomatic mission from Bamako. Similar reactions followed from Mali’s regional allies in the Sahel—Niger and Burkina Faso—further deepening the diplomatic rift.

These developments have frozen diplomatic communication channels and disrupted previous mediation efforts, especially given Algeria’s key role in brokering past peace agreements between the Malian government and armed groups—many of which were signed in the Algerian capital.

The crisis now threatens to aggravate the already fragile security and political landscape across the Sahel, where terrorism, political instability, and weakened state institutions remain persistent challenges.