Algeria has shut its airspace to all flights originating from or headed to Mali, escalating a diplomatic dispute over a drone incident near their shared border.
The move, announced Monday by Algeria’s Defense Ministry, comes in response to what it described as repeated violations of its territorial sovereignty.
The decision follows a sharp exchange between Algiers and Bamako over the downing of a Malian military drone.
Mali, along with its allies Burkina Faso and Niger, recalled its ambassadors from Algeria over the weekend, claiming the drone was shot down while conducting an anti-terrorism operation within Malian territory.
In a joint statement, the three governments said they “strongly condemned this premeditated hostile act,” asserting that the drone was downed just under 10 kilometers from the border and fell vertically evidence they said pointed to a missile strike.
Algeria denied the accusations, calling them “serious, false, and unfounded.” According to Algeria’s Foreign Ministry, radar data showed the drone had entered Algerian airspace, prompting it to be intercepted.
In response to the diplomatic protest, Algeria also recalled its ambassadors from Mali and Niger and delayed accrediting a new envoy to Burkina Faso, citing reciprocity.
Tensions between Algeria and Mali have been simmering for years. Bamako has repeatedly accused Algeria of allowing armed groups to operate in border areas.
Algeria, which played a key role in brokering the 2015 peace accord between Mali’s government and northern separatist groups, has recently voiced concern about Mali’s growing security ties with Russia and the gradual collapse of that agreement.
Source:THEMEDIALINE