The Malian Drone Incident that was downed by the Algerian army on April 1st is escalating into a significant diplomatic conflict. «The Transitional Government informs the public that the Republic of Mali has submitted a complaint to the International Court of Justice against the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria on Thursday, September 4th, 2025. This action follows the deliberate destruction by the Algerian regime of a reconnaissance drone, registered TZ-98D, belonging to the Malian Armed and Security Forces, during the night of March 31st to April 1st, 2025, in Tinzawatene, in the Kidal region,» the transitional executive's communiqué reveals. Bamako stresses that «this destruction of the drone within Malian territory is not only an act of aggression and a hostile, unfriendly, and condescending gesture by Algeria, but more importantly, a blatant violation of the principle of non-use of force. It constitutes an act of aggression as defined by Resolution A/RES/29/3314 of December 14th, 1974, of the United Nations General Assembly, and breaches relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and its Non-Aggression and Common Defense Pact.» The communiqué further states that «this flagrant aggression, which the Government vehemently condemns, was intended to obstruct the Malian Armed and Security Forces' efforts to neutralize armed terrorist groups. It is part of a series of hostile and malicious actions, repeatedly denounced by Malian authorities, and clearly illustrates an unhealthy collusion between the terrorists and the Algerian regime, which provides them with its protection.» It is noteworthy that the Algerian army admitted on April 2nd to having shot down a Malian drone of the Akinci type.
