The United Nations on Monday (Dec 11) officially concluded its decade-old deployment in Mali, its spokesperson released a statement saying, in a move that Mali's military leaders ordered.&nbsp;

The mission, which was also known as MINUSMA, lowered the United Nations flag on its headquarters in the capital Bamako, its spokesperson Fatoumata Kaba told the news agency AFP.

She further said that this symbolic ceremony marked the end of the mission. However, some elements of it are still there, she added.

A "liquidation phase" is scheduled for Jan 1, 2024, where activities like handing over the remaining equipment to the authorities will occur.

<h2>UN troops' departure won't be delayed: Mali junta</h2>

Earlier, Malian foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop had released a statement saying that the withdrawal of United Nations peacekeepers from northern Mali would not be delayed and would happen on time by December 31.&nbsp;

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The UN expressed concerns that its drawdown may get hampered by an uptick in fighting in the northern part of the country.

"Everything must be done to ensure the work of MINUSMA is ended by December 31," Diop had said in a video posted on social media on Saturday evening.

"The government does not foresee any extension of this deadline," he said in the recording of comments he made to a meeting of the diplomatic corps in the capital, Bamako.

Mali's ruling junta took over power in the year 2020 and demanded the departure of the mission in the month of June which has been deployed since 2013.

The withdrawal of the United Nations stabilisation mission, MINUSMA, ignited fears that the fighting between the troops and armed factions would heighten over territorial control.&nbsp;

MINUSMA for a decade had maintained around 15,000 soldiers and police in Mali. The hostile acts had claimed the lives of around 180 members.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PressRelease?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PressRelease</a> - Closure of the MINUSMA camp in Sevare, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mopti?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mopti</a> region. 
 
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As of Friday, more than 10,500 uniformed and civilian MINUSMA personnel had left Mali, out of a total of around 13,800 staff at the start of the withdrawal, the UN mission said on X.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The United Nations on Monday (Dec 11) officially concluded its decade-old deployment in Mali, its spokesperson released a statement saying, in a move that Mali's military leaders ordered.

The United Nations on Monday (Dec 11) officially concluded its decade-old deployment in Mali, its spokesperson released a statement saying, in a move that Mali's military leaders ordered. The mission, which was also known as MINUSMA, lowered the United Nations flag on its headquarters in the capital Bamako, its spokesperson Fatoumata Kaba told the news agency AFP. She further said that this symbolic ceremony marked the end of the mission. However, some elements of it are still there, she added. A "liquidation phase" is scheduled for Jan 1, 2024, where activities like handing over the remaining equipment to the authorities will occur. UN troops' departure won't be delayed: Mali junta Earlier, Malian foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop had released a statement saying that the withdrawal of United Nations peacekeepers from northern Mali would not be delayed and would happen on time by December 31. Also read: At least 4 injured after airstrike on Kyiv; Biden to host Zelensky at W. House The UN expressed concerns that its drawdown may get hampered by an uptick in fighting in the northern part of the country. "Everything must be done to ensure the work of MINUSMA is ended by December 31," Diop had said in a video posted on social media on Saturday evening. "The government does not foresee any extension of this deadline," he said in the recording of comments he made to a meeting of the diplomatic corps in the capital, Bamako. Mali's ruling junta took over power in the year 2020 and demanded the departure of the mission in the month of June which has been deployed since 2013. The withdrawal of the United Nations stabilisation mission, MINUSMA, ignited fears that the fighting between the troops and armed factions would heighten over territorial control. MINUSMA for a decade had maintained around 15,000 soldiers and police in Mali. The hostile acts had claimed the lives of around 180 members. #PressRelease - Closure of the MINUSMA camp in Sevare, #Mopti region. 📖👉🏿 https://t.co/QWZ3HOxNof — MINUSMA (@UN_MINUSMA) December 9, 2023 × As of Friday, more than 10,500 uniformed and civilian MINUSMA personnel had left Mali, out of a total of around 13,800 staff at the start of the withdrawal, the UN mission said on X. (With inputs from agencies)

UN mission in Mali officially concludes 10-year deployment

The ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali has reportedly been under a blockade by Islamist militants for several days.

As per AFP, local officials reported on Monday that the jihadists "have blocked all the roads," effectively sealing off all roads in and out of the northern city, situated on the fringes of the Sahara desert.&nbsp;

<h2>What's happening in Timbuktu?</h2>

Speaking to the news agency on the condition of anonymity, a local lawmaker revealed that "Nothing is getting through between Timbuktu and the south," and that the jihadists had blocked all connections along the nearby Niger River.

"Everything's expensive in Timbuktu because products are no longer getting into the city. The jihadists have blocked the roads. It's really difficult," a city hall official told AFP.

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<h2>Prices skyrocket</h2>

The situation has led to severe disruptions in the Timbuktu's supply lines and has also resulted in significant price increases.&nbsp;

As per a petrol station owner, the price of petrol surged from "845 CFA francs (around $1.40) to 1,250 CFA francs in a week".

<h2>A war</h2>

As per AFP, earlier this month, messages on social media attributed to a commander from&nbsp;Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM)&nbsp;— which has linkages to&nbsp;Al Qaeda —&nbsp;announced that it had "declared war" on the Timbuktu region.&nbsp;

These messages reportedly warned trucks from Algeria, Mauritania, and other regional locations from entering Timbuktu and threatened to target any vehicles that fail to heed the 'warning'.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-peacekeeping-mission-in-mali-quits-base-early-over-insecurity-625213">UN peacekeeping mission in Mali quits base early over insecurity</a>

These&nbsp;series of threats come as the United Nations peacekeeping mission MINUSMA for Mali expedited withdrawal from a base in the country's northern regions. This was done&nbsp;citing heightened security risks.&nbsp;

Mali, which has witnessed three coups in the past decade, is currently under the rule of a military junta that has been pressing for the departure of the MINUSMA UN mission which commenced in 2013 following the 2012 separatist and jihadist rebellions in the northern part of the nation.&nbsp;

MINUSMA has already handed over control of two bases near Timbuktu to Malian authorities. In spite of the UN&nbsp;compliance&nbsp;with the Junta's demand, the region remains plagued by unrest, reports AFP.

Currently, the UN mission is maintaining a camp within Timbuktu. However, its troops are slated to withdraw from the city by the end of this year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali has reportedly been under a blockade by Islamist militants for several days. As per AFP, local officials reported on Monday that the jihadists "have blocked all the roads," effectively sealing off all roads in and out of the northern city, situated on the fringes of the Sahara desert.

The ancient city of Timbuktu in Mali has reportedly been under a blockade by Islamist militants for several days. As per AFP, local officials reported on Monday that the jihadists "have blocked all the roads," effectively sealing off all roads in and out of the northern city, situated on the fringes of the Sahara desert. What's happening in Timbuktu? Speaking to the news agency on the condition of anonymity, a local lawmaker revealed that "Nothing is getting through between Timbuktu and the south," and that the jihadists had blocked all connections along the nearby Niger River. "Everything's expensive in Timbuktu because products are no longer getting into the city. The jihadists have blocked the roads. It's really difficult," a city hall official told AFP. Also read | Five Burkina Faso police officers, 40 'terrorists' die in clashes Prices skyrocket The situation has led to severe disruptions in the Timbuktu's supply lines and has also resulted in significant price increases. As per a petrol station owner, the price of petrol surged from "845 CFA francs (around $1.40) to 1,250 CFA francs in a week". A war As per AFP, earlier this month, messages on social media attributed to a commander from Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM) — which has linkages to Al Qaeda — announced that it had "declared war" on the Timbuktu region. These messages reportedly warned trucks from Algeria, Mauritania, and other regional locations from entering Timbuktu and threatened to target any vehicles that fail to heed the 'warning'. Also read | UN peacekeeping mission in Mali quits base early over insecurity These series of threats come as the United Nations peacekeeping mission MINUSMA for Mali expedited withdrawal from a base in the country's northern regions. This was done citing heightened security risks. Mali, which has witnessed three coups in the past decade, is currently under the rule of a military junta that has been pressing for the departure of the MINUSMA UN mission which commenced in 2013 following the 2012 separatist and jihadist rebellions in the northern part of the nation. MINUSMA has already handed over control of two bases near Timbuktu to Malian authorities. In spite of the UN compliance with the Junta's demand, the region remains plagued by unrest, reports AFP. Currently, the UN mission is maintaining a camp within Timbuktu. However, its troops are slated to withdraw from the city by the end of this year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Timbuktu under siege: Jihadist fighters block roads, cut off supplies

In an accident, two Dutch UN peacekeepers were killed and one seriously wounded on Wednesday in an explosion in north west Mali during a training exercise, the Dutch defence ministry said. 
 
&quot;During the accident, two of our men lost their lives,&quot; said Netherlands&#39; vice chief of defence, Vice Admiral Rob Bauer. 
 
&quot;Another 23-year-old soldier was seriously wounded,&quot; Bauer told reporters in The Hague at a hastily-convened press conference after the incident in the Malian town of Kidal. 
 
The injured man was operated on in a field hospital and then taken to a military hospital in northern Gao. 
 
The defence ministry named the two men as Corporal Kevin Roggeveld, 24, and Sergeant Henry Hoving. 
 
Officials with the UN mission in Mali said in a statement that &quot;an accidental explosion of a shell caused the deaths of two MINUSMA peacekeepers during a training exercise&quot; in Kidal. 
 
MINUSMA has launched an internal investigation, while Bauer said &quot;we do not know exactly what happened and we don&#39;t want to speculate&quot;. 
 
The Netherlands has been taking part in the UN stabilisation mission in the west African nation since April 2014, and has deployed some 400 troops, four Apache helicopters and three Chinooks, the Dutch news agency ANP said. 
 
The UN mission was deployed in Mali in July 2013 as part of an international effort against jihadist groups which overran the country&#39;s northern territory. 
 
The north continues to be beset by violence having fallen under the control of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012. 
 
The Islamists sidelined the rebels to take sole control, and although they were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013, extremist groups still pose a threat. 
 
The UN Security Council last month decided to send 2,500 extra peacekeepers to Mali, authorising the force to take &quot;all necessary means&quot; to deter attacks in what has become the UN&#39;s deadliest mission. 
 
(AFP)

A third injured soldier was operated on in a field hospital and then moved to a military hospital in northern Gao

In an accident, two Dutch UN peacekeepers were killed and one seriously wounded on Wednesday in an explosion in north west Mali during a training exercise, the Dutch defence ministry said. "During the accident, two of our men lost their lives," said Netherlands' vice chief of defence, Vice Admiral Rob Bauer. "Another 23-year-old soldier was seriously wounded," Bauer told reporters in The Hague at a hastily-convened press conference after the incident in the Malian town of Kidal. The injured man was operated on in a field hospital and then taken to a military hospital in northern Gao. The defence ministry named the two men as Corporal Kevin Roggeveld, 24, and Sergeant Henry Hoving. Officials with the UN mission in Mali said in a statement that "an accidental explosion of a shell caused the deaths of two MINUSMA peacekeepers during a training exercise" in Kidal. MINUSMA has launched an internal investigation, while Bauer said "we do not know exactly what happened and we don't want to speculate". The Netherlands has been taking part in the UN stabilisation mission in the west African nation since April 2014, and has deployed some 400 troops, four Apache helicopters and three Chinooks, the Dutch news agency ANP said. The UN mission was deployed in Mali in July 2013 as part of an international effort against jihadist groups which overran the country's northern territory. The north continues to be beset by violence having fallen under the control of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012. The Islamists sidelined the rebels to take sole control, and although they were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013, extremist groups still pose a threat. The UN Security Council last month decided to send 2,500 extra peacekeepers to Mali, authorising the force to take "all necessary means" to deter attacks in what has become the UN's deadliest mission. (AFP)

Two Dutch UN troops killed in Mali training accident

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UN mission in Mali officially concludes 10-year deployment

Timbuktu under siege: Jihadist fighters block roads, cut off supplies

Two Dutch UN troops killed in Mali training accident