According to a statement issued by the Ministry of National Defence, the Algerian government has decided to reopen its national airspace to all air traffic arriving from or bound for the State of Mali, effective Friday, 10 July 2026.
Relations between Algeria and Mali have begun to thaw as both countries reinstate their ambassadors and reopen the airspace that had been closed to each other’s aircraft since April 2025. In this regard, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced on Saturday the return of Kamel Retieb to Mali as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. It should be noted that Algeria’s envoy to Bamako had been recalled for extensive consultations on 7 April 2025.
Similarly, the Malian authorities have announced the return of the Malian ambassador to Algiers and the reopening of the country’s national airspace to all air traffic arriving from or departing for Algeria, according to a statement issued by the Malian Transitional Government. This restoration of bilateral relations has been described as a significant step towards easing tensions between the two neighbouring countries following a diplomatic rift that lasted fifteen months.
The reopening of Algerian airspace is expected to facilitate the gradual resumption of commercial and civilian flights between the two countries while contributing to regional stability and supporting efforts to address the escalating terrorist threat across the Sahel. It is worth recalling that Algeria has long played a mediating role in the conflict between the Malian government and Tuareg separatist groups, facilitating peace efforts and dialogue in northern Mali.
Noureddine Chebli is an Associate Professor of English at Tissemsilt University. His areas of expertise include postcolonial literature, academic writing, translation, and journalism. He is fluent in Arabic, French, and English.