Algeria and Mali restore diplomatic ties after 15-month rift
Ambassadors are back and the airspace is open again between the two Sahel neighbours.
Key points
- Algeria and Mali restored diplomatic relations on 11 July 2026, returning their ambassadors and reopening their airspace to each other.
- President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered Algeria’s ambassador, Kamal Retieb, back to Bamako on 10 July; Mali reciprocated.
- Ties had broken down in April 2025 after a Malian drone was downed near Tinzaouatène on the border.
Algeria and Mali have restored diplomatic relations, ending a 15-month rupture between the Sahel neighbours. On 11 July 2026, both countries reinstated their ambassadors and reopened their airspace to each other.
What happened
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered Ambassador Kamal Retieb to return to Bamako on 10 July. Algeria had recalled him in April 2025. Mali's government confirmed that it had taken reciprocal measures.
Algeria also reopened its airspace to Malian aircraft, so commercial and official flights between the two countries can resume.
How the rift began
Relations broke down in April 2025, after a Malian drone was shot down near Tinzaouatène, on the border between the two countries.
Why it matters
Algeria and Mali share a long desert border in a region troubled by armed groups and trafficking. Restoring ties could revive intelligence sharing, joint border patrols and regional security cooperation. For people on both sides, reopened flights also mean easier travel and trade.
Sources
Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy or tell us.
