International Court of Justice Delays Case Between Mali and Algeria

By Abby Burczyk

A recently filed dispute between Mali and Algeria has been put on hold by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) this week. The tension between Mali and Algeria goes back to April 1 of this year when Algeria reported a downed drone close to the Mali border. Algeria reported that the drone was close to the town, Tin Zaouatine, on the southwestern border inhabited by Tuareg members. Previously, Algeria participated in long term mediation between Mali’s national government and Tuareg opposition groups. Though during the time of the conflict, it was never specified what caused the drone to crash, Algeria has previously denounced use of armed drones by Mali to combat armed separatists in their part of the Sahara. 

Mali, as reported in their official claim filed in early September to the ICJ, accused Algeria of shooting down the drone along the desert border. The Ministry of Territorial Administration in Mali stated that the destruction of the drone in Algerian airspace slows down a continued campaign against armed rebel groups in northern Mali. Tensions with rebel groups within the desert have intensified with groups associated with al-Qaida committing attacks. Along with the complaint to the ICJ, Mali accuses Algeria of previous “hostile acts and malicious actions.”  Algeria has suffered from strained relationships with neighboring states due to recent alliances with the Russian Federation. 

While allegations of acts of aggression is a case typically seen by the ICJ, the court is unable to provide a judgement on the complaint by Mali as it stands. Algeria has not given automatic jurisdiction to the ICJ in disputes involving other United Nations members. Without consent to proceed with a court case by the Algerian government, the case application will remain merely a symbolic objection to Algeria’s management of desert airspace. The ICJ has forwarded the case to the Algerian government in hopes of an eventual ruling on international law.