Mali has recalled its ambassador to Algeria, accusing it of interference in its internal affairs by meeting rebel leaders. This has deepened diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours over efforts to end the armed rebellion in northern Mali.

Mali’s junta announced the withdrawal of Ambassador Mahamane Amadou Maiga from Algeria for consultation with immediate effect. Algeria has been the main mediator in peace efforts between Mali and the local Tuareg rebels, whose separatist campaign has thrown the country into a violent conflict for over a decade. In 2012, the Malian military was dislodged from a town, leading to a series of events that destabilized the country.

Algeria has summoned Mali’s top diplomat and urged the country to join Algeria’s efforts to uphold the peace agreement with the Tuareg rebels. The Malian Information and Press Bureau criticized Algeria’s actions as interference in Mali’s internal affairs.

Algeria defended the meetings with rebel leaders, stating they fit into Algeria’s efforts to achieve peace in Mali. The dispute could further threaten peace efforts in Mali, where clashes have erupted between the military government and Tuareg rebels. Analysts warn that these developments could lead to more violence in a region already under threat from al Qaeda fighters.