Bamako: Mali has formally accused Algeria of deliberately shooting down one of its surveillance drones near their shared border, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two North African nations. The allegation was announced on national television by Mali’s security minister, who detailed the government’s position on what it described as a “premeditated hostile action.”
The wreckage of the downed drone, which belonged to the Malian Armed Forces, was discovered approximately 9.5 kilometers south of the border with Algeria. According to Mali, the incident occurred during the night between March 31 and April 1, further intensifying the strained relations between the neighboring countries.
“The government said it had concluded ‘with absolute certainty that the Malian Armed Forces drone was destroyed in a premeditated hostile action by the Algerian regime,’” the minister said during the televised address.
In a coordinated response, Mali, along with its regional allies Burkina Faso and Niger, announced the recall of their ambassadors from Algeria for consultations. In a joint statement released on Sunday, the three Sahel nations expressed strong disapproval of Algeria’s actions, calling them an “irresponsible act by the Algerian regime.”
The incident came to light after Algeria’s Defence Ministry confirmed on April 1 that its armed forces had intercepted and shot down what it described as an “armed surveillance drone” that had violated Algerian airspace near Tinzaouaten, a border region that connects both countries. However, the Algerian statement did not elaborate on the drone’s origin or mission.
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At the time, Mali’s military issued its own account, stating that an unmanned aerial vehicle had crashed while conducting a routine surveillance operation. The conflicting narratives now risk triggering further diplomatic fallout and undermining regional security cooperation efforts.
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The airspace dispute adds to an already complex political dynamic between Mali and Algeria, as both countries navigate shifting alliances and growing instability in the Sahel region.
