UN Peacekeepers Get Ready to Leave Mali

The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, which for many years was described as the deadliest place to serve as a UN "blue helmet", is due to draw down fully by December 31, in accordance with its Security Council mandate. Close to 13,000 uniformed personnel will be repatriated and civilian staff will leave while equipment is relocated to other missions or sent back to the countries which supplied items such as vehicles.

The UN has ended its presence in the Kidal region, following the departure of its last personnel by air and land convoy. The last convoy of peacekeepers left Kidal by road for Gao, and unfortunately suffered two IED attacks on the way, causing material damage.

This article originally appeared on AllAfrica

Image by Harandane Dicko/MINUSMA