Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have withdrawn their ambassadors from Algeria, following accusations that Algeria shot down a Malian drone. Algeria confirmed it downed the drone in its airspace, while Mali condemned the act as aggression. The situation escalated with Algeria closing its airspace to flights from Mali amid ongoing tensions.
Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have announced the withdrawal of their ambassadors from Algeria, following accusations that Algerian forces shot down a Malian drone. This joint decision came after Mali alleged that one of its drones was downed by Algerian military on its territory in late March.
On April 1, Algeria confirmed to have shot down an armed reconnaissance drone within its airspace, although it did not provide additional details. The Malian foreign ministry asserted that it had determined, with certainty, that the drone was downed through “hostile premeditated action by the Algerian regime.”
The wreckage of the drone was reportedly located 9.5 kilometers (approximately six miles) south of the Algerian border and was believed to have been downed by either a ground-to-air or air-to-air missile. Mali condemned this incident as an “unprecedented act of aggression,” denouncing the actions of the Algerian authorities in strong terms.
In response to these tensions, Algeria did not address the withdrawal of the ambassadors but on Monday announced a closure of its airspace to all flights to and from Mali, citing repeated violations of its airspace by the Malian state. This closure took effect immediately as declared by the Algerian defence ministry.
The diplomatic strain between Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Algeria has escalated following the accusations of drone surveillance violations and acts of aggression. The withdrawal of ambassadors signifies severe discontent among these nations and highlights the complexities of military and diplomatic relations in the region. The closure of Algerian airspace further intensifies these tensions, illustrating the fragile state of cooperation among these neighboring countries.
Original Source: dailytrust.com
