Mali has filed an application with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Algeria, the Malian Ministry of Territorial Administration announced in a September 4 statement, according to Jeune Afrique.
The move follows Bamako’s accusation, dating back to April 1, that Algeria shot down a Malian army drone over Malian territory, allegedly violating its airspace. Algiers has rejected the claims, saying its Defense Ministry’s radar data “clearly establish the violation of Algerian airspace” by a reconnaissance drone originating from Mali.
The episode has triggered a sharp diplomatic crisis between the two neighbors. Mali, joined by its military-led allies Niger and Burkina Faso, recalled their ambassadors from Algiers, while Algeria responded by recalling its envoys from Mali and Niger. Both countries have since closed their airspace to each other, escalating tensions in an already fragile regional context.
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