A diplomatic dispute has erupted between Mali and Algeria, with Bamako accusing Algiers of supporting Malian separatist groups while Algeria criticizes Mali’s handling of peace agreements and counterterrorism operations.
The tension escalated after Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf opposed Mali’s decision to classify certain northern separatist groups as terrorist organizations. He also condemned Mali’s military-heavy approach to counterterrorism, arguing that previous similar efforts in the Sahel had failed.
Algeria has long backed opposition movements involved in the 2015 Algiers Accords, a peace deal aimed at integrating northern factions into Mali’s political system. However, Mali’s government officially ended the agreement in January 2024, leading to heightened tensions.
Mali’s Foreign Ministry responded sharply, asserting that decisions regarding armed groups within its territory fall solely under its jurisdiction. The statement accused Algeria of displaying “undisguised sympathy” for terrorist groups operating in Mali and the broader Sahel region. It also urged Algeria to focus on its internal affairs, particularly the Kabylie issue—a longstanding independence movement in northern Algeria.
The Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), which Algeria designates as a terrorist organization, has been pushing for autonomy. Its leader, Ferhat Mehenni, recently urged the UN Security Council to address human rights violations against Kabylie activists, alleging mass arrests and abuse by Algerian authorities.
Diplomatic ties between Mali and Algeria have been deteriorating since December 2023, with both nations recalling their ambassadors. Analysts warn that Algeria fears a successful Tuareg separatist movement in Mali could embolden marginalized ethnic groups in Algeria, Niger, and Libya, potentially destabilizing the region.
The dispute has coincided with rising violence in Mali. In mid-January, a Spanish national was kidnapped in southern Algeria and later rescued by the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a coalition of separatist groups in Mali’s north. Meanwhile, Tinzawaten, a border town, witnessed heavy fighting in July 2024, where 47 Malian soldiers and 84 Russian mercenaries were killed by militants and a Tuareg rebel group.
Despite pledging to restore security, Mali’s military junta has struggled with escalating violence. After expelling UN and French peacekeepers, terror attacks surged, more than doubling from December 2023 to November 2024, according to the Global Conflict Tracker. As tensions with Algeria continue, Mali faces increasing instability in both its domestic security and regional diplomatic relations.