Mali: Authorities take Algeria to the International Court of Justice
On Thursday, 4 September 2025, the Malian government announced that it had officially referred the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by filing a petition against the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. This decision illustrates the desire of Mali to prioritise legal and diplomatic channels to resolve a major dispute with its northern neighbour.
The reason for this action is the destruction, on the night of 31 March to 1 April 2025, of a Malian Armed and Security Forces reconnaissance drone, registered as TZ-98D, while it was flying over the town of Tinzaouatène, in the Kidal region.
The Malian authorities directly accuse Algeria of committing this hostile act.
Bamako considers this destruction to be a deliberate act of aggression, jeopardising Mali’s national security and undermining the integrity of its defence system.
For the authorities, this is a serious precedent that goes beyond a simple military incident.
The Malian government also maintains that this act constitutes a flagrant violation of the principle of non-use of force, enshrined in the United Nations Charter and in several General Assembly resolutions.
Michel TOKANI
