The United Nations mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has transferred control of one of its significant camps in the northern Timbuktu region, as reported by ORTM public television on Friday.
Originally slated for January, the handover of the Gao and Timbuktu bases to Malian authorities has been expedited due to the region’s volatile security situation and persistent threats from jihadist attacks.
A UN source, speaking anonymously to media, highlighted the urgent closure of the Timbuktu base due to unresolved internal security challenges within the MINUSMA camp.
During an official ceremony broadcast by ORTM, Regional governor Bakoun Kante expressed gratitude to the UN for the handover, underscoring the significance of the event.
Tensions between Mali’s military junta and MINUSMA escalated in June, prompting a demand for an immediate withdrawal amidst strained relations. Throughout its decade-long presence, MINUSMA has faced significant challenges, recording approximately 180 fatalities in its efforts to maintain peace in the conflict-ridden Sahel nation plagued by jihadist violence.
The UN Security Council terminated the mission’s mandate on June 30, setting a December 31 deadline for the complete withdrawal, resulting in a phased pullout amid arduous conditions in the north. Recent military advances by the Malian army have added complexity to the situation.
In the midst of this, separatist Tuareg forces announced last week their blockade of roads in the region, exacerbating tensions. This development follows renewed fighting between the separatists and government forces in August after eight years of relative calm, further intensifying the struggle to fill the void left by the departure of UN peacekeepers.
