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Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has expressed his country’s willingness to mediate in the conflict in northern Mali—but only under strict conditions.
Speaking to the Algerian press on Friday, 18 July 2025, President Tebboune addressed the security crisis unfolding in neighbouring Mali, declaring, “Algeria is prepared to assume the role of mediator in the search for peace in northern Mali.
“ However, he made it clear that such involvement would only occur if the Malian government formally requests Algeria’s mediation.
In a firm stance, President Tebboune also rejected the presence of foreign mercenaries near Algeria’s borders, specifically citing the Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps. “We do not accept the presence of mercenaries at our borders,” he stated.
This new condition poses a significant diplomatic challenge.
The Malian government, under transitional authorities, withdrew from the 2015 Algiers Peace Accord—originally brokered by Algeria and signed with northern armed groups—formally announcing its end on 25 January 2024. That accord was seen at the time as a critical framework for ending years of violence in the region.
The Malian authorities’ denunciation of the agreement has strained ties with Algeria, despite the two countries sharing a vast 1,376 km land border.
For Algiers, peace and stability in Mali remain a strategic imperative due to regional security concerns, especially amid growing jihadist threats and rising geopolitical tensions in the Sahel.
President Tebboune’s offer signals Algeria’s enduring commitment to regional stability—but it also underscores a clear condition: “Only with an official request from Bamako will Algeria engage.”
The question now remains whether Mali’s leadership will reconsider its position and re-engage with Algeria for a renewed peace effort in a region that has known little respite from violence.
