The UN Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, has begun its gradual withdrawal from the country at the request of Mali’s transitional authorities which is mandated by the Security Council to be complete by the last day of the year.

Shortly before the Council met to discuss the latest situation in Mali on Monday, the head of MINUSMA, El-Ghassim Wane, spoke exclusively to UN News. 

In his interview with Jerome Bernard, he had a powerful message for the Malian people: “MINUSMA is leaving, but the UN is staying”.