Mali and Algeria restore ties after year-long diplomatic freeze

After more than a year of escalating tensions, Mali and Algeria have officially restored full diplomatic relations. The surprise announcement followed a complete breakdown in communication, marked by mutual accusations of complicity with armed groups along their shared border—including jihadist factions of the Jnim (linked to al-Qaeda) and separatist members of the FLA. With Bamako’s military leadership doubling down on a military-first strategy against these groups, could Algiers’ emphasis on dialogue shift Mali’s approach? And is this thaw sustainable or just another fleeting diplomatic gesture?