The withdrawal of the United Nations peacekeeping force from Mali has been officially completed, with the last soldiers leaving the country by the end of 2023.
The decision to end the mission was made in response to the request of the Malian authorities, who cited the failure to stabilize the situation in the country.
The UN Security Council unanimously approved this request. Over the past decade, the UN has made multifaceted efforts to support Mali and its people, and this drawdown marks the completion of their mission.
The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established in 2013 after political unrest in the country.
Despite criticism from the Malian government, the UN argues that peacekeepers have played a positive role in maintaining regional security. However, the mission has come at a great cost, with 311 UN personnel losing their lives and over 700 being injured during the ten-year period.
