Timbuktu’s Ancient Manuscripts Return After 13-Year Exile

Timbuktu’s treasured manuscripts, some dating back to the 13th century, began their long-awaited return to the historic city on Monday, over a decade after being smuggled out to escape destruction by al-Qaida-linked militants. The Malian military government initiated the transfer from Bamako, where the documents were safeguarded since the 2012 occupation of Timbuktu.

When Islamic radicals seized the city, they destroyed over 4,000 manuscripts and damaged UNESCO World Heritage sites, including nine mausoleums and a mosque’s door. However, Timbuktu’s devoted librarians saved over 27,000 documents, smuggling them out using rice sacks, donkey carts, motorcycles, boats, and vehicles. The first batch, comprising 200 crates weighing 5.5 tons, arrived by plane, with more shipments planned in the coming days.

Timbuktu’s dry desert climate, 706 km from Bamako’s humidity, is better suited to preserve these fragile texts. “These manuscripts reflect our civilization, our spiritual and intellectual heritage,” said Diahara Touré, Timbuktu’s deputy mayor. Local authorities have long advocated for their return.

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Malian Minister of Higher Education Bouréma Kansaye called the manuscripts a “legacy of intellectual greatness,” emphasizing the need to protect, digitize, and study them. Covering subjects like Islamic theology, astronomy, medicine, and history, they testify to the rich Mali and Songhai empires’ cultural heritage, recognized by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage.

Despite government control, Timbuktu faces ongoing militant attacks, with recent violence reported nearby. The return marks a significant step in preserving Mali’s cultural legacy amid persistent security challenges.

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