Algeria and Mali mend diplomatic ties, reopen airspaces

A significant breakthrough has emerged in the strained relations between Algeria and Mali, as both nations have announced the reciprocal return of their ambassadors and the reopening of their respective airspaces. This move signals a thawing of tensions that have characterized their bilateral ties in recent years, particularly since the current Malian government assumed power and accused Algiers of meddling in its internal affairs.

Bamako confirmed its decision to “reopen national airspace to all civil and military aircraft operating flights originating from or destined for” Algeria, according to a government statement. Furthermore, Mali announced the impending return of its ambassador to Algiers, who had been recalled in April 2025, though a specific date for his resumption of duties was not provided.

Hours prior to Mali’s announcement, Algeria had disclosed identical measures concerning its neighbor’s airspace. This Algerian directive became effective on Friday, encompassing “all air flights to and from Mali across various international destinations,” as detailed in a statement from the Algerian Ministry of Defense.

Mirroring Mali’s initiative, Algeria also declared on Friday the return of its ambassador to Mali, marking a concerted effort to restore full diplomatic engagement.

The drone incident

Kamel Retieb, who served as Algeria’s ambassador in Bamako before his recall by Algiers following a diplomatic dispute, is set to resume his ambassadorial functions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed his reinstatement, which follows a quarrel ignited by the destruction of a Malian drone by Algerian forces in April 2025.

Algiers, which played a pivotal role in brokering the 2015 peace accord between Bamako and armed groups in the north, has seen its regional influence challenged by Mali’s new authorities. These authorities have consistently accused Algeria of interference in their domestic affairs, contributing to the recent diplomatic friction.

Since 2012, Mali has grappled with a severe security crisis fueled by violence from groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS), alongside community-based criminal organizations.

The diplomatic rift between the two nations intensified in spring 2025 after an Algerian military action led to the destruction of a Malian military drone near their shared border. Algeria maintained that the aircraft had violated its airspace, while Mali asserted it was operating within its own territory.

This incident triggered a significant diplomatic crisis, characterized by the recall of ambassadors, reciprocal airspace closures, and a series of accusations exchanged between Algiers and the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger).

Further tensions were exacerbated in April by Mali’s public declaration of support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a stance directly at odds with Algeria’s long-held position on the disputed territory.

Despite these recent disagreements and historical quarrels, Algeria and Mali share an extensive border and face common security imperatives, particularly the ongoing battle against jihadist groups active across the Sahel region.