Algeria and Mali Restore Ties After Drone Dispute

The Government of Algeria and the Government of Mali restored diplomatic relations on July 11, 2026, ending a 15-month period of tension. As part of the agreement, both nations reopened their airspace to civilian and military aircraft and announced the redeployment of their respective ambassadors.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced the return of Algeria's ambassador to Mali, a move confirmed as reciprocal by Malian government spokesperson Issa Ousmane Coulibaly. The rift began on March 31, 2025, when Algerian forces shot down a Turkish-made Malian reconnaissance drone near Tinzaouaten in the Kidal region. Algeria claimed the drone violated its airspace, while Mali asserted the aircraft was downed within its own borders.

Following the incident, Algeria closed its airspace to Malian flights on April 7, 2025. In response, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso withdrew their ambassadors from Algeria. The dispute escalated in September 2025 when Mali filed a complaint against Algeria at the International Court of Justice, which Algeria dismissed as baseless. The diplomatic break also caused Algeria to cease its role as a mediator between the Malian government and Tuareg separatist rebels, impacting security across the Sahel region.