Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have withdrawn their ambassadors from Algeria after accusations that Algerian forces shot down a Malian drone. Algeria confirmed the incident and subsequently closed its airspace to Malian aircraft, exacerbating diplomatic tensions.
Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have officially withdrawn their ambassadors from Algeria, citing the shooting down of a Malian drone by Algerian forces as the primary reason. The decision was announced in a joint statement following Mali’s accusation that Algeria shot down the drone within its own territory in late March.
On April 1, Algeria confirmed it had shot down an armed reconnaissance drone but provided no further details on the incident. Mali’s foreign ministry asserted that the drone was struck by a missile in an act of aggression by the Algerian regime, stating that the wreckage was discovered 9.5 kilometers south of the Algerian border.
Describing the incident as an “unprecedented act of aggression,” Mali condemned Algeria’s actions as “hostile, unfriendly, and condescending.” In response, Algeria closed its airspace to aircraft traveling to or from Mali, highlighting repeated violations of its airspace by the Malian government, effective immediately, per the Algerian defense ministry’s announcement.
The diplomatic rift between Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Algeria has intensified following accusations of aggression related to a drone incident. The withdrawal of ambassadors and the closure of Algerian airspace to Malian aircraft illustrate the escalating tensions in the region. These developments underscore the complexities of military and diplomatic relations among these neighboring countries.
Original Source: dailytrust.com
