Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have withdrawn their ambassadors from Algeria, accusing Algerian forces of illegally shooting down a Malian drone. Algeria confirmed the incident and subsequently closed its airspace to Malian flights, citing repeated violations. This escalation highlights the rising tensions among these military-led nations.
The countries of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have announced the withdrawal of their ambassadors from Algeria, citing an incident in which Algeria purportedly shot down a Malian drone. This joint statement came after Mali accused Algerian forces of downing the drone over its territory late in March, prompting a strong response from the military-led government.
Algeria confirmed on April 1 that it intercepted an armed reconnaissance drone within its airspace but did not provide additional details. Mali’s foreign ministry has asserted that its investigations concluded that the drone was shot down in an act described as “hostile premeditated action by the Algerian regime.”
Further analysis indicated that the wreckage of the drone was discovered approximately 9.5 kilometers south of the Algerian border. Mali accused Algeria of utilizing either ground-to-air or air-to-air missiles. The Malian statement condemned this act as an “unprecedented act of aggression,” expressing strong condemnation of Algeria’s actions as hostile and condescending.
Although Algeria has yet to respond formally to the ambassadors’ withdrawal, it announced the closure of its airspace to any aircraft traveling to or from Mali. The Algerian defense ministry justified this closure by citing repeated violations of its airspace by Malian military operations, effective immediately.
In summary, the diplomatic relations between Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Algeria have deteriorated significantly following the incident involving the downing of a Malian drone. The situation has led to the withdrawal of ambassadors from Algeria and a decision to close Algerian airspace to Malian aircraft. This escalating tension underscores the complex dynamics of military cooperation and territorial sovereignty in the region.
Original Source: dailytrust.com
