The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali on Sunday said it had brought forward its withdrawal from a base in the north of the country due to deteriorating security conditions.
Over the past few days, the rebel alliance led by ethnic Tuaregs has accused Malian forces and Russian Wagner troops of violating a cease-fire by attacking its forces stationed near Ber.
The Malian army has not responded to the allegations, but on Saturday said six soldiers died and 24 fighters from "armed terrorist groups" were killed in a skirmish in the area a day earlier.
What did the UN mission say?
MINUSMA, as the UN mission is known, said in a statement it had "expedited its withdrawal from Ber due to the deteriorating security and the high risks that brings for our Blue Helmets."
"It urges all concerned parties to refrain from any actions that could further complicate the operation," it said, without naming those involved.
A senior local security official told AFP news agency that MINUSMA troops had left Ber, adding that the withdrawal had taken place "without incident."
Three injured in strike on UN convoy
However, MIMUSMA later said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that its convoy was attacked twice while leaving Ber and three blue helmet soldiers were evacuated for medical treatment.
