Mali and Algeria have both closed their airspaces to each other’s aircraft, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing tensions.

The Malian government justified its move by accusing Algeria of supporting international terrorism, calling the airspace closure a reciprocal measure in response to what it sees as Algeria’s hostile actions. This decision follows Algeria’s accusation that Mali violated its airspace multiple times with military drones, including an incident where it claimed to have shot down a Malian aircraft in late March 2025.