UNITED Nations peacekeepers are working towards a speedy and safe withdrawal from Mali, the chief spokesman for UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said on Monday.

Stephane Dujarric said that undersecretary-general for peace operations Jean Pierre Lacroix wanted a rapid handover to Malian authorities while avoiding any further casualties among the UN troops.

More than 300 soldiers with the mission, known as Minusma, have been killed since it was was established in 2013, making it one of the bloodiest in the world body’s history.

Mr Dujarric said: “Jean-Pierre Lacroix has concluded his visit to the country, after a series of meetings with senior officials from the transitional government, including Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga.”

Mr Lacroix discussed lessons learned during the first phase of the mission’s withdrawal, expected to be completed by the end of the month, Mr Dujarric said, adding that co-operation between the UN and the Malians was “critical to ensuring a safe and orderly withdrawal in a tight timeframe and challenging environment.”

According to reports Minusma has withdrawn from a few of its smaller bases in the northern Timbuktu region.

The target is for all UN troops to be out of Mali by December 31.

This follows the passage of a security council resolution in June after the Malian authorities demanded an end to the mission.