Algeria and Mali restore diplomatic ties following yearlong rift
Summary
Algeria and Mali have restored their diplomatic relations after more than a year of tension. Both countries have sent back their ambassadors and reopened their airspace for flights between them.Key Facts
- Algeria will return its ambassador to Mali.
- Algeria has reopened its airspace for civilian and military planes traveling to and from Mali.
- Mali has responded by taking similar steps and confirming the return of its ambassador to Algeria.
- The diplomatic break began in April last year after Algeria said it shot down a Malian drone that entered its airspace, which Mali denies.
- This dispute affected security cooperation in the Sahel region, where Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger face attacks from armed groups linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda.
- Algeria had been mediating peace talks between the Malian government and Tuareg rebels but paused this role during the dispute.
- Algeria’s foreign minister supports Mali’s territorial integrity and opposes terrorism.
- The security challenges in the Sahel are partly linked to weapons left behind after the 2011 overthrow of Libya’s leader Muammar Gaddafi.
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