UN soldiers exited the Kidal camp in Mali’s restive north, marked by extremist and separatist unrest, according to sources from the peacekeeping mission.
The withdrawal follows the Malian military’s 2020 coup, which prompted authorities to demand the departure of the peacekeepers, citing the mission’s “failure.”
Despite a plan for complete withdrawal by year-end, the UN troops initiated their departure as early as July, leaving behind equipment, which had to be disposed of in compliance with UN protocols.
The exit has reignited tensions between armed factions and the Malian government, with rival groups contesting the transfer of UN camps to the army, leading to a resurgence of clashes.
The ongoing withdrawal occurs against a backdrop of heightened hostilities, further complicated by perceived operational constraints imposed by the authorities.