Withdrawal of MINUSMA in Mali: Handover of Mopti Camp to National Authorities Ahead of Imminent Mission Closure
On Friday, the UN Mission in Mali handed over one of its last camps in the country to the national authorities, in accordance with the junta’s request in power, marking a crucial step towards its definitive withdrawal, according to the spokesperson for MINUSMA.
The Mopti camp, located in the center of the country and once a hub of jihadism and violence in the Sahel, was transferred to the Malian authorities. Unlike some recent handovers in the north, this operation unfolded smoothly, even though MINUSMA had expedited its departure under the pressure of escalating military clashes between the army and armed groups, stated Fatoumata Kaba in a statement to AFP.
Previously occupied by Bangladeshi and Togolese peacekeepers, the camp had hosted Egyptian, Pakistani, and Senegalese contingents. With the withdrawal from Mopti, MINUSMA edges closer to the end of its mission. The UN Security Council had set December 31 as the deadline for its complete withdrawal.
On Monday, MINUSMA will hold a closing ceremony for its headquarters on the outskirts of Bamako. This ceremony will mark the conclusion of the mission, according to Fatoumata Kaba.
In June, the ruling colonels in Bamako, who seized control by force in 2020, had demanded the immediate departure of MINUSMA after months of deteriorating relations. The mission, deployed since 2013, has not succeeded in ending the jihadist threat in ten years, and the Security Council terminated its mandate on June 30.
MINUSMA has carried out phased handovers, and it still has to close the sites in Bamako, Gao, and Timbuktu (north). After January 1, it will proceed with the «liquidation» of the mission, handing over the remaining equipment to the authorities and terminating existing contracts. Until Friday, over 10.500 members of MINUSMA, military or civilian, out of a total of about 13.800 at the start of the withdrawal, have left Mali, according to MINUSMA on social media.
