International Court of Justice – Mali files an application concerning a dispute with Algeria.

Sept 2025 : Mali filed an application before the International Court of Justice relating to a dispute between itself and Algeria concerning the alleged “destruction by Algerian Defence Forces of a reconnaissance drone of the Republic of Mali’s Armed and Security Forces during a surveillance mission over Malian territory” in the night of 31 March to 1 April 2025.

According to Mali,

“[t]his hostile act of Algeria inside Malian territory constitutes a clear violation of the principle of non-use of force and an act of aggression under United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/29/3314 of 14 December 1974, in breach of international law, in particular the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations of 26 June 1946, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union of 11 July 2000 and its Non-Aggression and Common Defence Pact . . . signed on 1 January 2005”.

Mali seeks to found the Court’s jurisdiction on Article 40, paragraph 1, of the Statute of the Court and Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules of Court, which reads as follows:

“When the applicant State proposes to found the jurisdiction of the Court upon a consent thereto yet to be given or manifested by the State against which such application is made, the application shall be transmitted to that State. It shall not however be entered in the General List, nor any action be taken in the proceedings, unless and until the State against which such application is made consents to the Court’s jurisdiction for the purposes of the case”.

In accordance with Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules of Court, Mali’s application has been transmitted to the Government of Algeria. However, no action will be taken in the proceedings unless

and until Algeria consents to the Court’s jurisdiction in the case.

Team Maverick