AFRICA/ALGERIA - Diplomatic crisis between Algeria and the three countries of the Sahel Alliance

Algiers (Agenzia Fides) – A diplomatic crisis is unfolding between Algeria and the three member countries of the Confederation of Sahel States (better known as the Sahel Alliance, AES): Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. In a communiqué issued yesterday, April 7, the Algerian government rejects the accusations made by Mali (and supported by the other two AES countries) that Algeria is allegedly collaborating with terrorist groups operating in the Sahel region.
"The junta of putschists ruling in Mali is vainly attempting to make our country a scapegoat for the setbacks and woes of which the Malian people are paying the heaviest price," the Algerian statement reads. Tensions between the two countries escalated after the Algerian military shot down a Malian drone hunting jihadist groups on the Mali-Algeria border.
According to Algerian sources, the drone was shot down on the night of March 31 and April 1 after flying over Algerian territory twice. According to Algiers, this is not the first violation of Algerian airspace by a Malian drone, but the third in just a few months. The first two violations occurred on August 27, 2024, and December 29, 2024, respectively.
In response to the downing of the plane, Mali and its allies Niger and Burkina Faso announced they were recalling their respective ambassadors to Algiers. In return, Algiers decided to "apply the principle of reciprocity and recall its ambassadors to Mali and Niger for consultations and postpone the appointment of its new ambassador to Burkina Faso." Meanwhile, the Algerian government underlined "the inability of the coup plotters" to "wage a real and effective fight against terrorism by entrusting its leadership to mercenaries, from whom Africa has suffered so much in its recent history." A clear reference to the soldiers of the Russian private military company Wagner, who have long had a presence in Mali. At the same time, Algiers also maintains important military ties with Moscow, which may now have to try to defuse tensions between its strategic partners in this part of the world. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 8/4/2025)

Share:

jihadists

---

---

mercenaries

---

---