Algeria-Mali Drone Dispute Sparks Regional Tensions

A bitter dispute between Algeria and Mali has escalated to the United Nations after Mali accused its northern neighbor of shooting down a military drone over its territory. Algeria has firmly rejected the claim, insisting the drone had crossed into Algerian airspace.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirmed receiving Mali’s complaint on Friday. However, the court emphasized it cannot act unless Algeria agrees to its jurisdiction, leaving the case in legal limbo.

Algeria’s foreign ministry described Mali’s move as a “shameless attempt” to exploit the UN judicial system, calling the complaint “too crude to be credible.” Algerian authorities maintain that radar data from their defense ministry clearly proves the drone violated Algerian airspace.

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The incident has fueled a wider diplomatic spat in West Africa. Mali, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, withdrew ambassadors from Algiers in protest. Algeria responded in kind, and both Mali and Algeria have closed their airspace to one another. The tension has also led to Mali accusing Algeria of supporting regional “terrorism.”

Analysts note that the drone dispute comes amid long-standing frictions between the two nations. In January last year, Mali’s ruling junta terminated a 2015 peace accord with Tuareg rebels, citing Algeria’s “hostility.”

While the legal outcome at the ICJ remains uncertain, the incident highlights the fragility of regional security and diplomacy in West Africa, as neighboring countries grapple with complex political and military dynamics.