The case of the Malian drone shot down by the Algerian army on April 1 has taken a new turn. On Friday, September 19, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirmed it had received a complaint filed by the Malian government against Algeria. «On September 16, 2025, Mali submitted a request to the International Court of Justice against Algeria concerning a dispute related to the alleged 'destruction by Algerian defense forces of a reconnaissance drone belonging to the Armed and Security Forces of the Republic of Mali during a surveillance mission over Malian territory' during the night of March 31 to April 1, 2025», the ICJ stated in a press release. The Court specified that «in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 38 of its Rules, Mali's request has been transmitted to the Algerian Government. However, no proceedings will be initiated until Algeria has accepted the Court's jurisdiction in this matter». The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly responded, dismissing the move as a «clumsy maneuver too crude to be credible». It added: «Algeria will not become an accomplice in this initiative and denounces its shameless nature. Algeria will, in due course, notify the International Court of Justice of its refusal of this maneuvering procedure», declared the ministry headed by Ahmed Attaf. It should be recalled that Bamako's transitional government had already announced on September 6 that «the Republic of Mali has filed, on Thursday, September 4, 2025, a request with the International Court of Justice against the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria. This move follows the premeditated destruction by the Algerian regime of a reconnaissance drone registered TZ-98D, belonging to the Malian Armed and Security Forces, on the night of March 31 to April 1, 2025, in Tinzawaten, in the Kidal region». When questioned about this complaint, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf had denied its existence on September 13, stating that «the International Court of Justice has never been approached with a request for the introduction of proceedings, as it is called in ICJ jargon. It does not exist». The ICJ is the principal judicial body of the United Nations. Established in June 1945 under the UN Charter, it began operating in April 1946. The Court is composed of 15 judges, elected for nine-year terms by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.
