On Monday, United Nations peacekeepers initiated their departure from two bases located in northern Mali.

This withdrawal is being enforced due to escalating insecurity and an increase in attacks carried out by Islamic extremists in the region.

The UN mission expressed its intent to expedite the departure process from two camps in the Kidal region, namely Tessalit and Aguelhok.

The frequency of attacks in northern Mali has more than doubled since the peacekeepers completed the initial phase of their withdrawal in August, the Associated Press reported.

“In view of the rapidly deteriorating security conditions for the lives of hundreds of peacekeepers … the mission is doing its utmost to complete this process as soon as possible, including if necessary, accelerating its withdrawal from the Kidal camp, originally scheduled for mid-November,” a UN statement said.

At the beginning of this year, the military junta in Mali issued a directive for the United Nations mission to vacate the country.

Mali has grappled with the challenge of quelling an Islamic extremist insurgency that commenced in 2012.

The mission in Mali has evolved into one of the world’s most perilous, with over 150 peacekeepers losing their lives since its commencement in 2013.

Written by staff