Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Gharib concluded his visit to Mali, which comes at a very sensitive time in the history of relations between the two countries, while the head of the transitional authority, Assimi Goïta, officially began his visit to Algeria in Bamako, which is expected to launch a new chapter after the severe tensions witnessed during his period between Mali and Algeria.
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Gharib left the capital Bamako after a friendly visit to Mali on behalf of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. This was the first visit by an Algerian prime minister to Mali since Goita took power, and it came a few weeks after Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga's visit to Algeria last August.
During the visit, Gharib was received by Gueita, and he also held talks with Maiga that later expanded to include members of the two countries' delegations, focusing on reactivating institutional cooperation, identifying priority areas of cooperation, and discussing the challenges facing the two countries and the region.
Following his meeting with Goita, Gharib said that his presence in Bamako a few days after Maiga's visit to Algeria reflects "the sincere political will shared by the leaders of the two countries, and their firm determination to strengthen bilateral relations of solidarity and cooperation in a way that serves the higher interests of the two peoples."
He pointed out that this trend comes, in his words, as an extension of the relations that unite the two countries, recalling the cooperation between them during the struggle for independence, and the path that brought them together after the restoration of national sovereignty, as well as their contribution to the African unity and integration project.
The most prominent political aspect of the meeting between Gharib and Goita was the Malian president's confirmation of his readiness to visit Algeria, an invitation conveyed to him by President Tebboune.
The most significant political aspect of the meeting between Ghrib and Goïta was the Malian president's confirmation of his readiness to visit Algeria, an invitation conveyed to him by President Tebboune. Goïta stated that the visit would be "a pivotal moment in consolidating the new dynamism in relations between the two countries." He also affirmed his "sincere desire to continue working together to elevate cooperation between Algeria and Mali to the highest levels."
Gharib conveyed a message from Tebboune to Goïta, reaffirming Algeria's commitment to strengthening political dialogue, bilateral relations, and good neighborliness. The Prime Minister stated that he had listened to the Malian President's vision for enhancing political dialogue and bolstering the bilateral partnership by capitalizing on opportunities for cooperation and defining priorities for the next phase.
He explained that the meeting addressed the various challenges facing the two countries and the region, while emphasizing the importance of consultation and coordination to confront them within an approach based on the self-reliance of the countries of the region.
During talks with Maiga, Gharib announced Algeria's readiness to reactivate institutional cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, foremost among them the Joint High Commission for Cooperation. He stated that its convening would allow for updating and strengthening the legal framework governing bilateral relations to keep pace with the new phase.
The Algerian side also put forward regional cooperation projects, most notably the Trans-Saharan Highway and the Trans-Saharan Fiber Optic Hub, as projects that could form a basis for resuming cooperation between the two countries.
Gharib said that Algeria seeks to identify priority sectors and draw up a “joint roadmap” to prepare for upcoming events, foremost among them Goita’s visit to Algeria, adding that Algeria looks forward to developing a common vision on issues of importance to both countries to present to their leaders during the anticipated visit.
For his part, Maiga said that his country wants the revival of relations between Algeria and Mali to lead to a “continuous and sustainable dynamic,” noting the importance of shared history and geography, and the need to “renew the common vision” of Presidents Tebboune and Goita.
Maiga recalled that he had visited Algeria 21 days earlier at the direction of Goethe, carrying a message to Tebboune, and said that the talks he held at that time aimed to embody the vision of the two countries’ leaders regarding making the region “a prosperous, safe space, free from all forms of hegemony, terrorism and neo-colonialism.”
This rapprochement comes after more than a year of severe diplomatic crisis. Tensions began to escalate noticeably after the Malian authorities decided in January 2024 to terminate the 2015 Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, which had been brokered by Algeria. Algeria had used this agreement as the basis for its mediation efforts between the Malian government and armed groups in northern Mali.
With the termination of the agreement, relations between Algeria and Bamako entered a phase of political tension, especially with the exchange of criticisms regarding the Algerian position on developments in northern Mali, before the crisis reached a higher level in April 2025 following the downing of a Malian drone near the border.
Algeria stated at the time that its air defense forces shot down a Malian drone after it entered Algerian airspace, and presented radar images that it claimed proved the incursion. Bamako rejected the Algerian statement and accused Algeria of shooting down the drone inside Malian territory. The Algerian Foreign Ministry later confirmed that the drone penetrated 1.6 kilometers into Algerian airspace before exiting and then returning on an “attack course,” which Algeria considered a direct hostile act.
The incident led to reciprocal diplomatic measures, including the withdrawal of ambassadors between Algeria and its allies Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In April 2025, Algeria announced the closure of its airspace to flights to and from Mali, in one of the most significant escalations between the two countries.However, recent months have witnessed a gradual shift from estrangement to dialogue. Malian rhetoric towards Algeria has undergone a notable transformation, coinciding with the normalization of relations between Algeria and Niger, culminating in the return of ambassadors. In a conciliatory speech a few months ago, Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga invoked verses from the Algerian national anthem, "Qassaman," and spoke of the need to rebuild relations on the basis of mutual respect, dialogue, and shared interests, while also highlighting the historical ties between the two peoples. This paved the way for his invitation to visit Algeria.
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