Mali’s government confirmed that the UN’s peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA, will complete its withdrawal from the country by mid-November. The mission, which had been deployed since 2013, officially ended on December 31, 2023, following the junta’s order to expel the peacekeepers amid escalating tensions between the UN and Mali’s military leadership.
MINUSMA had around 15,000 soldiers and police personnel in Mali, which has been battling militant violence and various other crises. The mission entered a “liquidation phase” in January, with the final equipment being handed over or evacuated and contracts concluded.
Mali’s government announced that the final phase of withdrawal will conclude by November 15, 2024, marking the complete departure of the mission’s personnel, including the repatriation of civilian international staff and military contingents, as well as the handover of the Bamako camp.
Mali’s government which took power in 2020, accused the UN mission of exacerbating community divisions. Since severing ties with France, which had previously assisted in countering insurgents, Mali has sought support from Russia for political and military aid.
