The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA, is officially closing on 31 December, bringing an end to a decade-long presence in the West African country.

Some 15,200 military and police personnel and almost 2,000 civilians were mandated to work for the mission.

MINUSMA was deployed to Mali in 2013 following a violent insurrection by separatist rebels attempting to take control of the north of the country and a subsequent military-led coup. 

Its main tasks included supporting a political transition and protecting civilians.

Keeping the peace in restive northwestern Mali, including Gao (pictured), was a particular focus of the mission.

The mission also supported disarmament efforts, and some 2,300 former combatants joined the demobilization and reintegration process.

The mission supported the return to constitutional order including the adoption by referendum of a new constitution in June 2023. It also provided technical and logistical support for elections.

UN peacekeepers often worked on community projects, including the renovation of a school by Ghanaian engineers in a deprived neighbourhood of the capital, Bamako.

MINUSMA has been amongst the most challenging UN peacekeeping missions with operations taking place in often hostile environments.

The mission’s presence in Mali has come at an exceptionally high human cost: 311 peacekeepers have died in the line of duty and at least seven hundred more have been injured since July 2013.

The chief of UN Peacekeeping, Jean-Pierre Lacroix (second from right), visited the mission on many occasions. He paid tribute to the fallen colleagues and recognized all peacekeepers “who selflessly serve for the cause of peace”.