Timbuktu, the Impenetrable

Timbuktu, located in the heart of West Africa, is probably one of the most known Sahelian cities and ancient black capitals of the modern era. Mid-2014, while the situation seemed to improve after the 2012 crisis and Malians had begun recovering from violence and chaos, northern Mali plunged into violence again. Armed groups retook control of key cities, resulting in the national army withdrawing again. Mali in general and Timbuktu in particular are still at risk of destabilization, with reports accumulating of jihadist groups reinforcing and redeploying. Currently living in the capital Bamako, I went several times to Timbuktu in 2014. I tried to immerse myself in the atmosphere of this mythic city. While partly destroyed by recent conflict, I discovered a city literally ‘recovering’ from chaos; destroyed buildings; empty government offices; children slowly going back to school and still traumatized by what they have been through over the last year; people restarting their activities. However, I also discovered smiley faces everywhere, faith, need for justice and the mystery of Timbuktu that I could feel. This series from Timbuktu tends to testify that, despite war and extremism, Timbuktu the Impenetrable remains the timeless capital of Malian defunct empire.