Nigeria, April 28 -- The current diplomatic crisis between Algeria and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) presents recently elected African Union Commission leaders with an opportunity to mediate and regain the organisation's standing in a region crucial to Africa's security.

The dispute originates from a clash between Algeria and Mali over the destruction of a Malian drone by Algeria's army on 1 April on the border at Tinzaouaten. Algeria says the drone crossed its border; Mali says the aircraft was in its own territory.

Diplomatic relations between the two, which date back to 1960, have often been turbulent due to the issue of northern Mali's successive separatist movements. However, this is the first time that Mali has denounced Alge...