Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso Withdraw Ambassadors from Algeria Due to Drone Incident

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have withdrawn their ambassadors from Algeria after accusations that Algerian forces shot down a Malian drone. Mali asserts this act was a premeditated aggression by the Algerian regime. In retaliation, Algeria has closed its airspace to flights to and from Mali due to alleged violations.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have jointly announced the withdrawal of their ambassadors from Algeria, citing the downing of a Malian drone by Algerian forces as the reason for their action. This announcement followed Mali’s accusations that Algeria shot down the drone within its territory in late March. Algeria, on April 1, confirmed that it had downed an armed reconnaissance drone in its airspace, but did not provide specific details regarding the incident.

In a statement, Mali’s foreign ministry asserted that it had determined, with “absolute certainty,” that the drone was shot down as part of a “hostile premeditated action by the Algerian regime.” The ministry also reported that the wreckage of the drone was discovered 9.5 kilometers south of Algeria’s border, asserting it was struck down using either a ground-to-air or air-to-air missile.

Mali described the incident as an “unprecedented act of aggression,” vehemently condemning the actions of the Algerian authorities as “hostile, unfriendly and condescending.” In response to the ongoing tensions, Algeria announced the closure of its airspace to all aircraft arriving from or departing to Mali, citing repeated violations of its airspace by Malian state aircraft, effective immediately. The Algerian defense ministry made this declaration public on the same day as the ambassador withdrawals.

The decision by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to withdraw their ambassadors from Algeria stems from heightened tensions following the downing of a Malian drone by Algerian forces. Both nations have made serious allegations against each other, with Mali condemning what it perceives as aggressive actions by Algeria. The closure of Algerian airspace to Malian flights further escalates the situation, indicating a period of strained relations among these North African nations.

Original Source: dailytrust.com