Mali has opened a formal investigation following the destruction of a military drone near its border with Algeria, intensifying an already fragile diplomatic standoff between the two countries.
The drone, registered under the code TZ_98D, was brought down during the night of March 31 to April 1 in the remote desert area of Tinzaouatene, located in the Kidal region.
The incident comes as mutual accusations and airspace closures fuel tensions between Bamako and Algiers.
In a statement released on April 8, the public prosecutor of Mali’s Specialized Judicial Unit for Counterterrorism and Transnational Organized Crime confirmed the opening of an inquiry.
The case involves potential charges of “criminal conspiracy, acts of terrorism, terrorist financing, illegal possession of war weapons and ammunition, and complicity.”
Magistrate Amadou Bocar Touré, who is leading the investigation, stated that authorities are working to “identify and apprehend the alleged perpetrators, co-perpetrators, and accomplices” behind the incident.
He called on the public to assist investigators by providing any relevant information.
The diplomatic fallout has been swift. On April 7, Mali closed its airspace to all civilian and military aircraft coming from or heading to Algeria.
This move came in direct response to a similar decision by Algerian authorities, who claim that Malian drones violated their airspace multiple times in 2024, including on August 27 and December 29.
In turn, Bamako has accused Algeria of providing support to terrorist armed groups operating in Mali—allegations firmly denied by Algiers, which referred to the ruling military government in Mali as a “putschist clique.”
The rhetoric has escalated, prompting both nations to recall their ambassadors.
The diplomatic strain has also spread to Burkina Faso and Niger, both members of the Sahel States Alliance (AES), further complicating regional alliances.
The suspension of flights has already impacted commercial routes, notably affecting Air Algérie.
The airline had only resumed its flights to Bamako on December 2, 2024, following a previous disruption.
In 2023, Mali had emerged as one of the airline’s most profitable African destinations, contributing to a 22% growth in its regional network.
This latest crisis underscores the volatile mix of security, politics, and diplomacy that continues to define the Sahel region—where borders are fluid, threats are transnational, and trust between neighbours remains dangerously thin.
