TIMBUKTU, the historic city nestled in northern Mali, has once more become the epicentre for terrorist organisations operating within the Sahel region. This UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its iconic adobe structures, influential madrasahs that have significantly shaped Islamic civilisation, and its invaluable collection of manuscripts, faces a grave threat to its cultural heritage.
Over the past month, Timbuktu has fallen under the control and siege of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an offshoot of al-Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM) with a significant presence in the Sahel region. This alarming development follows a series of events that have led to the resurgence of terrorist influence in the area.
The unravelling of security in Timbuktu began when the United Nations mission, known as MINUSMA, evacuated its camps in response to the request from the Bamako administration. Notably, the Ber camp, located approximately 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Timbuktu, was evacuated and handed over to the Malian army. This transition triggered confrontations between the army and former rebel groups that had previously laid down their arms in accordance with the 2015 Algiers Peace Agreement.
Amidst these skirmishes between the Malian army and the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), composed of the disarmed groups, JNIM seized the opportunity to advance and encroach upon the borders of Timbuktu.
In August, Talha Abou Hind, the self-declared JNIM commander for the Timbuktu region, declared war against the Malian army, citing their alleged involvement with ‘Wagner mercenaries’ as a reason. This escalation resulted in the blockage of trucks carrying essential supplies to Timbuktu.
The situation in Timbuktu has grown increasingly dire, with both air and land transportation coming to a halt. More than 34,000 residents have been forced to flee the city, seeking safety elsewhere.
Since August, road access to Timbuktu has been severed, and on September 7, a tragic rocket attack targeted the only passenger ferry plying the Timbuktu-Bamako route on the Niger River, resulting in the loss of 49 lives.
Further compounding the chaos, Timbuktu Airport faced security threats as three artillery shells fell dangerously close, prompting Sky Mali, the sole airline serving Timbuktu, to suspend flights on September 11. With air and land routes compromised, even ferry transportation on the Niger River was suspended following the attack.
In response to JNIM’s initial statement in August, some local residents had already chosen to leave Timbuktu. According to a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), approximately 33,000 people sought refuge in other cities within the region, while an additional 1,000 sought refuge in Mauritania.
Timbuktu, once celebrated as the scientific and cultural epicentre of Africa, tragically fell under the control of terrorist groups nearly a decade ago. The recent resurgence of violence underscores the persistent challenges faced by the region and the urgent need for security and stability in Timbuktu and the broader Sahel region.
(with Anadolu Agency)
