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On Monday, August 26, Algeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ammar Bendjama, strongly called for an end to violations by private armies hired by certain countries, marking the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. The statement came after a drone strike killed 21 Malian civilians near the Algerian border in Tinsawaténa.
Ammar Benjama strongly criticized the Malian army for its lack of coordination with Algeria before carrying out these drone strikes. These actions not only caused losses in lives, but also alerted the Algerian military aviation. In addition, the injured Malians had to cross the border to Algeria for treatment, which shows the seriousness of the situation.
These events took place against an already tense and unstable backdrop in Mali, mainly due to the conflict over the self-determination of Azawad. Algeria, concerned about the impact on its own security, has increased its military presence along its borders with Mali, Libya and Morocco.
Algeria is particularly concerned about the Malian military’s reliance on an informal alliance that includes countries such as Turkey, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, all of which are interested in influence in the Sahel region. This situation deeply angers Algiers, which is firmly opposed to any foreign interference in Africa and the presence of mercenaries.
Algiers has always been clear about its opposition to foreign intervention, especially in Libya, where it has been facing the presence of the Wagner Group since 2016. This hostility is also visible in recent statements by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who strongly criticized these interventions.
Statements by Ammar Bendjama and other Algerian officials suggest that tensions between Algiers and Bamako could escalate. If concrete steps are not taken to calm the situation, the crisis could have significant implications for the stability of the Sahel region and beyond.
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