Chapter 1: The Al-Qaeda Threat to Timbuktu

In June 2012, the extremist group Al-Qaeda seized control of Timbuktu, a historic city located at the edge of the Sahara Desert. Their objective was clear: to erase the city's rich history. They launched brutal attacks on the UNESCO World Heritage sites that adorned Timbuktu.

One individual, Abdel Kader Haidara, the head of the Ahmed Baba Research Center, recognized the danger. He understood that the Islamists were targeting knowledge—the very essence of human advancement. Since the early 1990s, Haidara had been diligently gathering priceless manuscripts that highlighted Africa's long-standing tradition of documenting history and preserving wisdom. These manuscripts spanned from the 11th to the 19th centuries.

With time running out, Haidara quickly gathered fellow librarians to discuss their next steps. The threat to the ancient texts was imminent, and action was essential.

Over the next nine months, Haidara and his team put their lives on the line to save about 95% of the manuscripts stored in Timbuktu's libraries. They stealthily navigated past Al-Qaeda patrols, transporting the manuscripts to safer locations in Mali's capital, Bamako. Their bravery earned them the moniker "Badass librarians of Timbuktu," a title bestowed by renowned journalist Joshua Hammer.

What made these manuscripts so invaluable? Why did the librarians risk everything to save them? And what drove Al-Qaeda to seek their destruction? To understand this, we need to delve into the prosperous past of Mali.

Chapter 2: The Rich Heritage of Timbuktu

Timbuktu was once a vibrant hub of trade and scholarship. Though inhabited since at least the 5th century BC, it wasn't until the 12th century that it became a permanent settlement, thanks to the Tuareg nomads.

Strategically located along the Niger River and at the southwestern edge of the Sahara, Timbuktu flourished during the 14th century due to trade in salt, ivory, and gold. The Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta first documented Timbuktu in 1353, and by 1375, it was featured on the Catalan Atlas. Mansa Musa, one of history's wealthiest figures, played a crucial role in establishing Timbuktu's prominence.

In 1324, after conquering Timbuktu, Mansa Musa integrated it into the Mali Empire. While the extent of his wealth is debated, his commitment to education and culture is indisputable. Musa was responsible for founding the Djinguereber Mosque and the Sankore Madrasah, pivotal institutions that formed the University of Timbuktu—one of the world's leading centers of learning during the Middle Ages.

At this university, scholars translated works from Plato, Hippocrates, and Avicenna, covering various subjects, including art, medicine, and mathematics. Among the manuscripts were unique texts, such as an Arabic dictionary and works on human sexuality—a rarity in medieval Islamic society.

Unlike books in Europe and Asia, the Timbuktu manuscripts were not housed in public libraries; instead, they were kept in private homes, passed down through generations. As the city’s glory waned, the knowledge contained within these manuscripts remained protected, albeit scattered due to migrations and conflicts.

Chapter 3: Abdel Kader Haidara's Mission

Abdel Kader Haidara, from a lineage of scholars, recognized the importance of these manuscripts in countering the narrative that Africa lacked written history. He dedicated himself to recovering and cataloging these texts, which he believed held the true treasure of Timbuktu—its books.

By June 2012, as Al-Qaeda tightened its grip on Timbuktu, Haidara and other librarians convened to strategize the preservation of their invaluable heritage. They needed to act fast to protect the manuscripts, which were now in grave danger.

Despite the chaos, the librarians devised a plan to discreetly store the manuscripts in footlockers. They worked at night to avoid detection by the terrorists, who were on high alert.

However, transporting the manuscripts to safety proved to be a daunting task. They needed financial support and assistance to ship the books securely through areas controlled by Al-Qaeda. Thanks to the aid from the German foreign office and the Prince Claus Foundation in the Netherlands, they managed to gather the necessary resources.

The manuscripts were transported via trucks, canoes, and carts, often concealed under fruits and vegetables. At times, they disguised the footlockers as belongings of fleeing refugees to evade suspicion.

Despite their careful planning, the operation was fraught with risks. On one occasion, a French helicopter intercepted a canoe carrying boxes of manuscripts, suspecting them of smuggling weapons. Thankfully, after the contents were revealed, the crew was allowed to pass.

In a close call, Haidara's nephew, Mohammed Touré, was apprehended by Islamic police but managed to escape due to his understanding of Islamic law and his uncle's influence.

Chapter 4: The Successful Evacuation

Ultimately, the librarians' mission to transport the Timbuktu manuscripts to Bamako was a resounding success. In a span of nine months, they successfully secured 95% of the books, ensuring that much of Timbuktu's literary legacy was saved.

When the Islamists finally discovered the library, they were furious to find it nearly empty. In retaliation, they destroyed approximately 4,000 manuscripts from the original collection of 400,000, but the majority had already been safeguarded.

What happened to the manuscripts after their relocation? Following their rescue, Haidara and his colleagues faced a new challenge: preserving the manuscripts from degradation. An NGO called SAVAMA-DCI is collaborating with the librarians to digitize these historical texts, with many now available through Google Arts and Culture.

Haidara's efforts aim to illuminate Africa's rich literary past beyond the narratives of colonialism and slavery. Through digitization, the invaluable knowledge contained in the Timbuktu manuscripts can be appreciated by future generations.

Knowledge remains the most potent weapon against ignorance, and while authoritarian forces may attempt to suppress wisdom, the survival of the Timbuktu manuscripts stands as a testament to the enduring power of knowledge.