In a context marked by the urgency of the security situation, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (Minusma) is continuing its operations with a view to closing its camp in Kidal, in the northeast of the country. Initially scheduled for December 31, this closure should take place within the next few days, putting an end to the presence of Minusma in Mali.
However, the mission still faces many challenges as it prepares to leave the country. Part of the UN civilian staff was able to be evacuated thanks to a few authorized helicopter flights between Kidal and Gao, a town located further south. Despite this, many staff members are still awaiting their departure from Kidal, exposed to the risks linked to jihadist clashes and the laying of mines.
Minusma has developed a plan to form a land convoy to transfer personnel still present in Kidal to Gao. However, this operation is not without dangers, given the complex security situation in the region. Jihadist attacks and the risk of mines placed on the roads constitute major obstacles to overcome.
In addition to the logistical challenges, the question of control of the camp once emptied of its personnel also arises. The ex-rebels, grouped within the CSP-PSD coalition, are determined to prevent the army from taking control of the place. Regular forces, supported by fighters from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, are nearby, in Anefis and Tessalit, and the possibility of violent clashes is not ruled out.
This withdrawal of Minusma from Mali is already causing strong reactions and making the headlines in many media. The precarious situation in which the civilian and military personnel of the mission find themselves highlights the challenges facing the United Nations in its mission of stabilization and peacekeeping in the region. The closure of the Kidal camp thus marks a crucial step in the withdrawal of Minusma from Mali, but leaves many uncertainties surrounding the outcome of this process and the future of the country.