Algeria has expressed concern and regret following Mali’s decision to abandon a 2015 peace agreement mediated by Algeria itself. The accord aimed to integrate separatist rebels, who sparked a rebellion in northern Mali in 2012, into the national armed forces. However, the agreement was never fully enacted.
The recent escalation in fighting between separatists and the Malian army, bolstered by Russian mercenaries, has heightened tensions. This unrest follows the departure of UN peacekeepers and French troops from Mali. Additionally, Islamist militant groups continue to launch frequent attacks in the northern region, adding to the instability. Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf warned that this situation poses a risk to the entire region.