Mali and Algeria have reopened their airspace and reinstated their ambassadors, bringing an end to a diplomatic rift that commenced over a year ago. The resolution follows an incident where Algeria shot down a Malian armed drone near their shared border.
Mali's military junta announced late Friday its decision to restore the Algerian ambassador to Bamako and open its airspace to all civilian and military aircraft flying to or from Algeria. Algerian media confirmed the restoration of diplomatic ties.
The two nations had recalled their ambassadors and closed their airspace in April 2025, after the drone incident. At the time, Algeria accused Mali of repeated airspace violations, a claim Mali denied.
The relationship between the Malian military junta and Algeria had been deteriorating for two years, particularly after Mali ended a significant 2015 peace deal with local Azawad separatists. Algeria had been instrumental in mediating that agreement. The separatist movement aims to establish an independent state in northern Mali, a region that has experienced over a decade of violent conflict.
Mali's junta has also accused Algeria of supporting local extremist rebels linked to al-Qaida, an allegation Algeria denies.
In separate developments Friday, Mali's military announced it had broken a rebel blockade around the Anéfis military camp, a strategic army base in the north. This action followed violent clashes between the Azawad Liberation Front and the Malian army, which was supported by Russian Africa Corps allies and local militias.