The governments of Mali and Algeria have restored diplomatic relations, a move that promises to expand the circle of regional economic developments. Both governments issued statements on July 11,on the restoration of relations including return of respective ambassadors and the reopening of Malian airspace to Algerian aircraft. Relations were broken off in April, 2025 after Mali accused Algeria of shooting down one of its drones that had been surveilling the Mali-Algerian border within Mali airspace. Mali’s allies in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Niger and Burkina Faso also broke off relations in solidarity with Mali.
The restoration of ties will serve to expand the circle of cooperation among the Sahel States, Algeria and other North African states. This restoration of ties follows a renewal of ties between Niger and Algeria which began earlier ths year and has blossomed into broad economic and political cooperation. The rapprochement included renewal of construction of the Niger section of the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline, that will bring gas from Nigeria through Niger and connect with the Algerian gas pipeline network supplying Europe.
