LeadStory

Africanews

Timbuktu's famed manuscripts return home after 13 years

Africanews · Current
Africanews
Africanews
Current

The Malian military government started returning home the historic manuscripts of Timbuktu, which were spirited out of their fabled northern city when it was occupied by al-Qaida-linked militants more than a decade ago

Breakdown
  • Timbuktu's manuscripts were returned after being evacuated during militant occupation. 10s
  • Islamist radicals destroyed over 4,000 manuscripts and several UNESCO sites in 2012. 33s
  • The manuscripts cover topics including theology, astronomy, medicine, and history. 1m 13s
  • Scholars and locals welcome the return, enabling renewed research at the Ahmed Baba Centre. 1m 24s
History