A town in central Mall, on the river Niger:terminus of a trans-Saharan caravan route:a great Muslim center (14th -16th centuries).
The South Africa-Mali Project for the preservation of the Timbuktu Manuscripts.
In 2005, the then President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, initiated a project for the preservation of Timbuktu Manuscripts. It was for his idea of an African Renaissance.
The new library was South African designed, inspired by the surrounding architecture.
Sadly after Mbeki was ousted, the South African government lost interest. The new library was opened in early 2009 by the President of Mall and by South Africa's (interm) President, Kgalema Morlantha Motlanthe. Mbeki, sadlly, trailed along like a ghost at the feast. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (who had taken over from Essop Pahad) received an undeserved medal from the President of Mali, and Ntombazana Botha received a richly deserved medal.
After Jacob Zuma came to power, the Presidency completely lost interest in the project.
This meant that during the political crisis in Mali in 2012/3, when Timbuktu was occupied by Islamic fundamentalists rebels, South Africa played virtually no role in the international efforts to rescue the Manuscripts or stabilise the situation, even when requested. The new archives and library, built at South Africa's cost, became the rebel headquarters and was trashed by them when the French army approached.