The rift between the two Africa nations was triggered by an alleged Algerian shooting down of a Malian drone which entered Algiers’ airspace [Getty/file photo]
Algeria and Mali on Friday said they had reopened their airspace to each other’s planes after over a year of tension triggered by the Algerians downing a Malian drone.
Algeria shot down the drone in April 2025, saying it had crossed into its airspace – an allegation Mali denied – sparking tit-for-tat recalls of ambassadors and the closure of airspace.
Both countries issued similarly worded statements on Friday confirming that airspace had been reopened.
Mali added in its statement that its ambassador would return to Algiers, who also said its envoy would return to Mali in an apparent sign of thawing relations following over the year-long diplomatic rift.
Kamel Retieb, who had been ambassador to Mali before Algeria withdrew him following the row in April 2025, was to resume his duties, the Algerian foreign ministry announced in a statement.
Mali said its airspace would reopen “to all civilian and military aircraft” from or to its northern neighbour.
Algeria’s defence ministry said its decision was effective from Friday and “includes all flights to and from Mali via various international destinations”.
Mali has been locked in a security crisis since 2012 with large parts of the country falling prey to criminal gangs and jihadists.
Last year, Mali’s rulers announced the termination of a 2015 peace accord with Tuareg rebels which was mediated by Algiers, citing Algerian “hostility”.
