Earth Science News
AFRICA NEWS
Mali files ICJ complaint accusing Algeria of downing drone; Security tightened in Guinea after opposition protest calls
Mali files ICJ complaint accusing Algeria of downing drone; Security tightened in Guinea after opposition protest calls
by AFP Staff Writers
Bamako (AFP) Sept 4, 2025

Mali said Thursday it had filed an application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Algeria, accusing it of having shot down one of its military drones.

It said the drone, which was shot down in early April, was still in Malian territory, which would make the incident a violation of its airspace.

Algeria has rejected the accusation, citing defence ministry radar data to argue that the reconnaissance drone from junta-led Mali had violated its own airspace.

The issue has sparked a diplomatic crisis that has seen the neighbours recall their ambassadors and close airspace to each other.

In a statement Thursday, Mali's territorial administration ministry said it had "submitted an application instituting proceedings against Algeria before the International Court of Justice".

The destruction of the drone within Malian territory "constitutes not only an aggression, a hostile act, but also a blatant violation of the principle of non-use of force and an act of aggression", it argued.

"This flagrant aggression is the culmination of a series of hostile acts and clearly demonstrates an unhealthy collusion between terrorists and the Algerian regime," it added.

Relations between Mali and its northern neighbour have deteriorated in recent years.

Mali accuses Algeria of maintaining "proximity to terrorist groups", particularly in the border region.

In January 2024, Mali's junta scrapped a 2015 peace deal with separatist groups brokered by Algeria and which had long been considered essential for stabilising the country.

Since 2012, Mali has been gripped by violence from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group as well as local criminal gangs.

Security tightened in Guinea after opposition protest calls
Conakry (AFP) Sept 5, 2025 - Security was tightened on Friday in Guinea's capital Conakry following a call to protest against an upcoming constitutional referendum, AFP journalists reported.

Guinea's opposition alliance Living Forces of Guinea (FVG) claims the vote, due to take place on September 21, is junta chief General Mamady Doumbouya's way of tightening his grip on power.

Military leaders have framed the referendum as a step towards the restoration of constitutional order in the west African nation.

Protests were outlawed in 2022 and the junta has set about arresting, pursuing and exiling opposition figures since it seized power in 2021.

On Friday, under heavy rainfall, AFP journalists saw police vehicles and officers stationed at roads, intersections, marketplaces and the outskirts of the capital.

The police presence was most marked in opposition strongholds in the suburbs of the coastal city.

Officers with assault rifles were deployed to areas described as strategic while an armoured vehicle equipped with a water cannon was parked on a normally busy thoroughfare.

By midday, there was little sign of protesters in some areas, where calls to take to the streets have been followed less due to fears of a crackdown.

The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), a member of the FVG coalition, said defence and security forces had been deployed to "prevent" the demonstration, in a statement published Friday.

The FNDC said warning shots to deter protests had been fired on Thursday night.

It added that five people had been "abducted", including "four pro-democracy activists" and one "kidnapped" FNDC member.

Guinean authorities have not responded to the allegations.

Doumbouya took office in September 2021 following a military coup that toppled Guinean president Alpha Conde, ending a rule of more than 10 years.

The proposed constitution does not explicitly state whether Doumbouya may run for president at the next election.

A "transition charter", created by the junta shortly after the military coup, states that no junta member, government official or institutional representative may run in the elections.

But that may change if the new constitution is adopted.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
Sudan recovers 270 bodies after Darfur landslide: rebel group
Khartoum (AFP) Sept 3, 2025
Sudan has recovered 270 bodies from under the mud after a landslide buried a remote mountain village in the Darfur region, a civilian leader under the rebel group controlling the area said Wednesday. Heavy rains triggered the landslip which almost wiped out the village of Tarasin in the Jebel Marra range, the Abdulwahid al-Nur faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM) said. Citing sources on the ground, the United Nations said that between 300 and 1,000 people were killed in the landsl ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
USDA backs FAU led FogAg platform to advance precision farming

Frost, hail, heat sour season for Turkey's lemon growers

In oil-rich Oman, efforts to preserve frankincense 'white gold'

'Cocktail' of bacteria, fungi makes the perfect chocolate, study finds

AFRICA NEWS
Cooling La Nina may return in coming months: UN

New wave: sea power turned into energy at Los Angeles port

New wave: Sea power turned into energy at Los Angeles port

Can a giant seawall save Indonesia's disappearing coast?

AFRICA NEWS
'Mockery of science': US experts blast Trump climate report

Ancient tombs unearthed in Iraq due to drought

ESA climate records support new global change assessment

Record drought in Europe, Mediterranean in early August: monitor

AFRICA NEWS
Cornell research tests solar panel crop growth in New York

SolarDaily Exclusive: One Small Contractor Forces CPUC to Blink on 150% Storage Rule

Morocco tests floating solar panels to save water, generate power

Transforming boating, with solar power

AFRICA NEWS
Shell abandons huge biofuel project in Netherlands

UK watchdog probes power firm Drax over biomass source

Prototype system transforms urine into solar powered fertilizer and clean water

Paper: Decarbonize agriculture by expanding policies aimed at low-carbon biofuels

AFRICA NEWS
Kids age five to take gun safety class in US state of Tennessee

UN says Afghan quake could impact 'hundreds of thousands'

Floods leave women struggling in Pakistan's relief camps

FEMA employees suspended over letter critical of Trump admin

AFRICA NEWS
Taiwan says China illegally deploying oil rigs in its waters

China achieves world first in offshore heavy oil thermal recovery

Russia, China move closer to building new gas pipeline

Norway, environmentalists back in court over oil field permits

AFRICA NEWS
EU vows to enforce tech rules, despite Trump pressure

Gold price hits record above $3,500

Xi, Putin, Kim meeting 'direct challenge' to international system: EU top diplomat

Japan's long-term borrowing costs, gold hit record highs

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.