Sahel: Malian drone shot down, AES recalls its ambassadors to Algeria

The Confederation of Sahel States (AES), made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, took a major diplomatic step on Sunday, April 6, 2025. The three nations announced the recall of their ambassadors accredited to Algiers for consultations, in response to what they consider an unacceptable act by Algeria: the downing of a drone belonging to the Malian national army within Malian territory.

In a joint statement, the Heads of State of the AES denounced the incident as a hostile act and a violation of the principles of good neighborliness. According to the information provided, the drone, which was shot down in late March 2025, was carrying out a security mission in a highly monitored area as part of operations against terrorist groups. The action by the Algerian army was seen as a serious provocation and a direct attack on Malian sovereignty.

Far from being a simple technical mishap, this act highlights Algeria’s ambiguous intentions, as relations with AES countries have steadily deteriorated since these nations began asserting their sovereignty through independent political and security decisions.

This coordinated response underscores the growing unity among AES member states, who have made the respect of their sovereignty a non-negotiable principle. The people of the Sahel region, long ignored or looked down upon by certain regional powers, are now making it clear that they will no longer tolerate diplomatic disdain or covert acts of hostility.