Overview

• Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have withdrawn their ambassadors from Algeria following the downing of a Malian drone on March 31–April 1, 2025.
• The Alliance of Sahel States labeled Algeria's actions as an 'irresponsible act' and a violation of international law, escalating regional tensions.
• Mali's Foreign Ministry accused Algeria of backing international terrorism, further straining relations between the two nations.
• Algeria claimed the drone violated its airspace by over two kilometers and identified it as an armed Turkish-made Akinci surveillance drone.
• The incident underscores broader regional realignments, with the Sahel nations distancing themselves from Algeria and strengthening ties with Russia.