The ruling junta in Mali has announced that the UN’s mission, which was forced to withdraw from the troubled nation last year, will be entirely gone by mid-November.
The UN stabilisation mission (MINUSMA), which had been operational since 2013, ended on December 31 after Mali’s military leaders requested its departure due to deteriorating relations.
At its peak, the mission had stationed approximately 15,000 soldiers and police officers within the unstable West African country, fighting terrorism and dealing with other significant challenges.
Since January, in a so-called liquidation phase, the remaining equipment has either been transferred to the authorities or removed, with final contracts now finalised.
“This phase ends on November 15, 2024 with the handover of the Bamako camp and the repatriation of all civilian international personnel, contingents and equipment, thus establishing the definitive withdrawal of MINUSMA,” the council of ministers said in a statement late Wednesday.
The ruling junta accused the UN mission of “fuelling community tensions”. It also ended relations with its former colonial ruler, France which had been aiding the country in the fight against insurgency in the north. Mali has now formed an alliance with Russia for political and military assistance.
Over 180 MINUSMA members lost their lives in attacks by armed factions of terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group.