Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, Mali’s Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, and government spokesperson, sharply criticized Algeria During the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Maïga accused Algerian diplomats of harboring and supporting terrorists, denouncing this as a “serious interference in Mali’s internal affairs.”
This verbal attack followed a statement from the Algerian representative to the UN, who condemned drone strikes attributed to the Malian army, claiming they resulted in civilian deaths in the border area of Tinzaouatène.
These raids reportedly occurred shortly after clashes between Malian forces and their Russian allies against Tuareg rebels in the same region.
The Malian Colonel rejected these accusations, labeling them as “reckless and defamatory,” asserting that the Malian army is “fully competent in the use of drones, contrary to Algerian insinuations.”
The Malian minister also proclaimed the end of the Algiers Peace Agreement, signed in 2015 between the Malian government and armed groups from the North, stating, “The Algiers Agreement is dead and will not be resurrected. For every bullet fired at us, we will respond in kind.”
He sarcastically commented on the role of Algerian diplomats, accusing them of treating terrorists “with dishes of tchaktchouka and chorba” while acting as “disoriented couriers,” which he claimed severely damages the relationship between the two countries.
Maïga further noted that Malian defense forces are fully deployed across the national territory and continue offensive operations against terrorist groups. However, he acknowledged that a strictly military response is “insufficient on its own.”
As a result, the Malian government has adopted a comprehensive and integrated strategy to restore State authority through political, economic, and social measures, including dialogue with certain armed groups and providing basic services to local populations.
Through this confrontational stance, Mali underscores its intention to respond firmly to Algerian criticisms while reaffirming its sovereignty against external interference.