UN peacekeepers “rushed” their departure from a base in tense northern Mali leaving space for “terrorists” to take over, Mali’s army charged on Tuesday.
The peacekeepers of the MINUSMA mission left camps at Tessalit and Aguelhok in the Kidal region at the weekend, under a withdrawal ordered by the troubled country’s military leaders.
The pullout has ignited fears that fighting will intensify between troops and armed factions for control of the territory.
On Sunday, the mission announced it had “accelerated” its withdrawal the day before from the Tessalit camp in an “extremely tense and degraded” security context that “endangered the lives of its personnel”.
The army put out a statement Tuesday saying it noted “with much regret” .
that the UN troops had left Aguelhok base without waiting to hand it over to the Malian authorities.
“This rushed departure by MINUSMA puts in danger the process underway”.
“and threatens security and stability in Aguelhok,” the Mali army said.
“Terrorists” had entered the base “to destroy several installations” before being “neutralised” by the airforce, it added.
Mali’s ruling junta, which seized power in 2020, had in June demanded the departure of the UN mission.
which had been deployed since 2013, despite being in the grip of jihadism and raging crises.
That followed months of deteriorating relations.
The withdrawal of some 11,600 soldiers and 1,500 police officers is due to continue until December 31.
and has exacerbated rivalries between armed groups present in the north.
The groups do not want the camps handed back to the Malian army.
saying it would contravene ceasefire and peace deals struck with Bamako in 2014 and 2015.
Agence France-Presse