Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have withdrawn their ambassadors from Algeria following accusations that Algeria shot down a Malian drone. The incident has led to strong condemnations from Mali, which characterized the action as an act of aggression. Subsequently, Algeria announced the closure of its airspace to and from Mali due to repeated violations.
Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have officially withdrawn their ambassadors from Algeria, citing the shooting down of a Malian drone by Algerian forces. This decision was articulated in a joint statement following Mali’s claim that one of its drones was downed over its territory in late March. Algeria responded on April 1, announcing it had shot down an armed reconnaissance drone within its airspace but did not provide additional details.
Mali’s foreign ministry asserted that they determined with “absolute certainty” that the drone was shot down as a result of a “hostile premeditated action by the Algerian regime.” The ministry’s statement indicated that the wreckage of the drone was discovered approximately 9.5 kilometers south of the Algerian border, with indications that it had been struck by a missile.
Labeling the incident as an “unprecedented act of aggression,” Mali strongly condemned what it described as a hostile, unfriendly, and condescending action from Algerian authorities. In the wake of these tensions, Algeria announced the closure of its airspace to all aircraft from or to Mali due to continuous airspace violations by the Malian government, effective immediately.
The diplomatic tensions between Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Algeria have escalated following the downing of a Malian drone. The withdrawal of ambassadors indicates a significant shift in relations, underscored by bold accusations and retaliatory measures, such as the closure of airspace, which reflect ongoing regional conflicts and heightened mistrust among these nations.
Original Source: dailytrust.com
