The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mali announced it is recalling its ambassador in Algiers “for consultation with immediate effect” in a statement after Algerian officials criticized the recent escalating violence in Mali, fuelling tensions between both countries.

The decision came after the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, summoned the ambassador of Mali in Algeria, Mahamane Amadou Maiga, regarding recent violent escalations in the country. During the meeting, Algeria urged:

…all Malian parties to renew their commitment to the implementation of the agreement on peace and national reconciliation, the outcome of Algiers Process, to meet the legitimate aspirations of all the components of our brother Malian people for peace and sustainable stability.

The Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs retaliated by summoning the ambassador of Algeria to Mali to express his disapproval of actions he qualified as “unfriendly,” arguing that, “these acts are an interference in Mali’s internal affairs,” and called on Algeria to “prioritize dialogue with the Malian Authorities, the only legitimate ones to maintain state-to-state exchanges with the partners of Mali.” Furthermore, he stated that such acts are “likely to damage the good relations between the two countries.

Algeria has been a principle actor in mediating the conflict between Mali and the separatist movement, having led the conclusion of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali of 2015, the objective of which was to restore security and attain durable peace in the country. A resurgence of violence between the Malian army and the Permanent Strategic Framework armed group (CSP-PSD) in August in a fight to recapture Kidal, has violated the agreement, with drone strikes killing around 14 civilians, including children, in November, which the UN condemned in a statement on X, urging “both sides to protect civilians and respect international human rights & humanitarian law.” Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) expressed concerns over the escalation of violence and its impact on people’s access to healthcare.

The surge of violence erupted when the Malian transitional government ordered the UN to withdraw the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) personnel. The UN Security Council then agreed to withdraw MINUSMA in July, which officially announced its closure earlier this month.