On September 16, 2023, the Republic of Mali filed an application with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Algeria, concerning the alleged destruction of a Malian military reconnaissance drone by Algerian Defense Forces while it was conducting a surveillance mission over Malian territory. Mali characterized this as a “premeditated destruction” of its military equipment.

Mali alleges that Algeria’s actions were intended to obstruct Mali’s ongoing military operations against armed rebel groups and that the drone’s destruction constitutes a hostile act in violation of the principle of non-use of force, amounting to an act of aggression under United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/29/3314 of 14 December 1974.

Mali requested the ICJ to exercise jurisdiction over the case under Article 40(1) of the Statute of the Court and Article 38(5) of the Rules of Court. In line with these provisions, the application was transmitted to Algeria; however, no further action will be taken unless Algeria accepts the Court’s jurisdiction.

Algeria rejected Mali’s move to bring the matter before the ICJ, describing the action as a “shameless maneuver”  intended to deflect attention from Mali’s own internal military issues.