Mali Retaliates, Closes Airspace, Accusing Algeria of “Sponsoring International Terrorism”

Bamako – In a new and concerning escalation of strained relations between Bamako and Algeria, the Republic of Mali announced today, Monday, April 7, 2025, the closure of its airspace to all Algerian civil and military aircraft, “until further notice.”

This announcement, issued by the Malian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, came as a direct response to a similar decision made by Algeria earlier the same day, where the Algerian Ministry of National Defense announced the closure of its airspace to aircraft coming from or destined for Mali.

In a strongly worded official statement, the Malian Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Ms. Dembélé Madina Sissoko, explained that her country’s decision was a “reciprocal measure” to the Algerian move. Minister Sissoko went further, accusing the Algerian regime of “continuing to sponsor international terrorism,” asserting that Mali would not have resorted to this measure were it not for this “ongoing” support.

Ms. Sissoko emphasized that Mali reserves its full right to take all measures it deems necessary to protect its sovereignty and national security, stressing that the national airspace will remain closed to Algerian aircraft until new instructions are issued by the competent authorities.

This dangerous development unfolds against a highly sensitive regional backdrop in the Sahel, where tensions are already escalating. It is recalled that Sahelian countries recently accused Algeria of shooting down a Malian drone and violating its airspace, further exacerbating the disputes between the two sides.

Observers note that this latest escalation comes at a time when Algeria’s relations with several countries in the southern and western regions are experiencing significant complications, raising concerns about the future of regional stability.