Algeria and Mali banned flights to and from each other's airspace, their governments said on Monday, amid an escalating diplomatic crisis.

Algeria and Mali have each closed their airspace to flights from the other country, as the row over a drone that was shot down close to their common border escalates. On Sunday, without giving evidence, Mali accused its northern neighbour of being a sponsor and exporter of terrorism after Algeria attacked one of its drones last week.

Having recalled their ambassadors and closed their respective airspaces, Algiers and Bamako now find themselves in a climate of mounting tension. The economic impact is also being felt by their neighbour Niger.