In a statement released here, the mission stated that on October 21, it ended the rapid withdrawal of troops and civilian personnel from its base in Tessalit.
However, he expressed concern about the safety of a land convoy heading to Gao, a journey of more than 550 kilometers.
Tessalit’s departure, the text added, marks the first closure of the Minusma camp in the Kidal region, in northern Mali, as security deteriorates and endangers the lives of hundreds of soldiers and civilians.
On October 19, for example, a Mission plane was hit by small arms fire while landing at Tessalit. Fortunately, there were no injuries to the crew or major damage to the plane, the note said.
In mid-October, the United Nations warned of an increase in armed presence in northern Mali, which would likely prevent the timely departure of its mission in that African country.
This context may endanger the safe travel of the organization’s personnel and assets belonging to the countries that contribute troops and its own, emphasized a statement from the organization on October 14.
The context increases the risk for the air operations carried out by the mission to protect its reduction and allow its withdrawal, which the authorities of that African country agreed to end in December of this year.
The departure caused the destruction of equipment such as vehicles, equipment, ammunition, generators, and other assets, which must be returned to the countries contributing troops or transferred to other United Nations peacekeeping missions or the body in the military.
The mission will continue to adapt to evolving events on the ground and subsequent logistical constraints beyond its control, driven by the imperative of the safety of its peacekeeping personnel, the statement emphasized.
Due to the complexity of the operation, the UN recalls the responsibility of the Transitional Government of Mali for the safety of peacekeeping personnel.
In this regard, the forum called on it to extend all the necessary cooperation to facilitate the withdrawal of its forces and to allow it to all parties.
