Mali and Niger accuse Algeria and neighboring states of sponsoring terrorism
During a security forum in Senegal, the foreign ministers of Mali and Niger issued sharp accusations against neighboring countries, particularly Algeria and France, for 'harboring and supporting' armed terrorist groups in the Sahel. The diplomatic rift comes after a Malian military drone was shot down near the Algerian border. The military-led states affirmed their final withdrawal from ECOWAS and their commitment to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to combat jihadist insurgencies.