Algeria has fully reopened its airspace to flights to and from Mali, resuming normal aerial traffic between the two countries as of Friday, according to Algerian state media. This development follows a closure that began in April 2025 after a diplomatic dispute over a downed surveillance drone.

The standoff began when Algeria claimed its military shot down a Malian drone that had crossed into Algerian airspace. Mali, however, disputed this account, maintaining that the drone crashed within its own territory. In response to the incident, both countries closed their airspace to each other's aircraft, and Algeria withdrew its ambassador from Mali’s capital, Bamako, for consultations.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced on Saturday the decision to send the ambassador back to Bamako, suggesting a thaw in relations between the two neighbors.

The diplomatic reconciliation comes amid ongoing security challenges in Mali. On Friday, Mali’s military reported that it had broken a rebel blockade around the strategic army base at Anefis in the country's north. Anefis lies between Kidal, a town controlled by separatist forces, and Gao, which remains under the control of Mali’s military government.

The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a separatist group, claimed responsibility for an attack late Thursday on a large convoy of Malian army reinforcements, Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group known as the Russian Africa Corps, and local militias attempting to resupply the base. The attack temporarily cut off access to the base, underscoring the ongoing volatility in the region.

The easing of diplomatic tensions between Algeria and Mali may influence regional efforts to address security challenges posed by separatist and militant groups in northern Mali. However, the situation on the ground remains fluid as the Malian military continues to combat the insurgency.