Mali’s transitional government has filed a case against Algeria at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing its northern neighbor of “aggression” after Algerian forces shot down a Malian reconnaissance drone near their shared border.
According to Mali, the incident occurred between the night of March 31 and April 1, 2025, near Tinzaouaten in the Kidal region.
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Reuters report that authorities in Bamako claim the drone was conducting counter-insurgency operations when Algerian forces deliberately targeted it in order to obstruct Mali’s fight against armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
In a statement, Mali described the incident as “a blatant act of aggression aimed at hindering the neutralization of armed terrorist groups by the Malian Armed and Security Forces.”
The government further argued that the downing violated the principle of non-use of force under international law. It also said that repeated requests to Algeria for evidence proving the drone entered Algerian airspace went unanswered.
Algeria, however, maintains that its army acted lawfully.
Shortly after the incident, Algerian authorities announced that their forces had intercepted and destroyed an armed surveillance drone that violated Algerian airspace near Tin Zaouatine, a border town that has long been a hotspot for Tuareg separatist activity.
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The dispute marks another strain in already tense relations between Mali and Algeria, two countries that play key roles in the volatile Sahel region.
Image Credit: RFI
