Timbuktu is a town in Mali, a country in West Africa. It is on the south edge of the Sahara desert and has a population of about 55,000.

In the Middle Ages Timbuktu became famous as a centre for trade and culture. In particular, it was famous for books and scholarship. However, this gradually declined. Today the area is poor, and has been taken over by several different groups in its long history.

In April 2012, the latest group to take control of Timbuktu were Tuareg fighters from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, and Islamists from the militant Ansar Dine group. These Islamists have now destroyed one of the area's finest sites - a magnificent 15th century mosque - believing that the building is un-Islamic. At present the area is difficult to visit, due to continuing unrest. The occupiers have not been officially recognised as a new government, so things are unsettled in Mali at present.

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